Recently I have been hearing and reading about the need to diet, the need to lose weight, or the need for a change in lifestyle. As our society continues to praise the beach model beauty, many of us (especially ladies) strive for that "oh-so-perfect" body. Whether it is for health, self confidence, or peace of mind, it is hard to resist the bandwagon of creating "the new you" when it is blaring in every other commercial or advertisement.
As one of the many people out there who have striven for the list above, I have found that the mentality and perspective one takes makes the difference between a diet and a lifestyle change. I'm not here to pose The Almighty Plan upon you because lord knows, there are enough of those out there. However, I chose to list the factors that may help others who - like me - just want to feel good about themselves and their bodies.
The Spiritual Journey - This is probably the most important troll to tackle when attempting change in your physique. I find that so many people turn to dieting with a negative frame of mind. The "I'm fat" or "I want to be skinnier" or "I don't like how I look or feel" are all negative self reflections which make the whole process more of a burden than it should be. As difficult as it is, the change should be something positive as well as the reasons behind it. A healthier mind set might instead be "I want to feel good about myself" or "I want to try something new." Making a choice involving change is an adapting process, so seeing it as an adventure creates a sphere of possibilities instead of a cave of restrictions.
Diet vs. Lifestyle Change: It's all about Perspective - I do not like the word diet. In our society, it tends to be a marketing tool for any and every health program to jump on in order to persuade the population that their formula is best: "Eat this pill or this shake or this fancy food system and you will lose weight without trying!" I wish. Dieting is a tool for weight loss, yes. However, unless long term ramifications are made and accepted, once the diet is 'over', so is the process. This is where terminology comes into play. Lifestyle change tends to be associated with a long-term commitment. People that make lifestyle changes tend to have long term goals behind their motivations. The "look good for the summer bikini" may be a bonus, but it is not the ultimate goal. At the same time, a lifestyle change may take longer to bear fruits of success, but it can be easier to maintain for - well - life!
The Workout: Make it Work! - Whether claiming the 'diet' or the 'lifestyle change', being active is important to keeping your body working through old age. However, sometimes this word intimidates or discourages people who are either not athletic or just don't like to 'work out.' While working out is important, it is not the end-all to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. One need not run a marathon in order to feel good. For some people, increasing stamina and physical fitness is fun, appealing and a healthy challenge. That's super. However, each person has their own fitness goal, and with the world of possibilities, one person's ultimate workout may vary vastly from another. I say, find something that sticks and go with it.
Making Changes - Sometimes the hardest thing to do is changing the way we eat. Where dieting goes astray is it often focuses on one area of eating instead of looking at the various ways we can change habits. Whether it is portion control or food quality, both are things to consider when changing the food we eat. When making changes, a crucial first step is to acknowledge your weaknesses. Do you have a sweet tooth? A salty tooth? Or do you have cravings? I find that trying to eliminate your weakness entirely makes the whole experience negative. Instead of ignoring them, accept them and make adaptations that allow for positive change. For example, if you like snacking or grazing throughout the day, limit the "bad for you" items, and replace them with healthier foods, like vegetables, fruits or nuts. If you can't cut it out entirely, change it. If you can cut the frequency of intake and don't want to cut on calories, don't. Moderation, moderation, moderation. Find what works for you and stick with it. Sounding familiar?
The fact is - we are human and we are different. Which means that one "plan" is not always the right plan, and sometimes the baby steps in change yield the greatest results. So for anyone out there who wants to lose weight, diet, etc. make positive changes that work for you. This is a reflection, not an instruction manual, so take what you will from this and I wish you the best on your journey!
