Say NO to dieting!
Anyone who has been on a diet probably knows, although it may work temporarily and you may reach your weight loss goal, most suffer the unfortunate disappointment of returning to their original weight. Some even gain it all back plus some.
From what I have observed, this causes severe psychological, physiological and emotional consequences. It causes feelings of failure, depression and guilt. It can also give one unattractive stretch marks and take a toll on your internal organ function.
Just a reminder . . . I AM NOT a doctor, a dietician or a weight loss expert. But, because of the wisdom of my Grandmother Pauline, I do declare to be well-versed in the philosophy of moderation.
She taught me, that the key to a lifetime of healthy eating is to do so in moderation. You want cake, have a small slice and stop. Is it chocolate that you simply cannot do without? Have it; but have A PIECE of chocolate – not an entire bag of mini snickers, or ½ gallon of chocolate ice cream. But you should never, EVER, deprive yourself of the foods you love.
If you must use the word “diet” – use it when you talk about your healthy eating plan. Eat a “diet” consisting of lots of fruits and vegetables. Have a few servings of lean protein every day.
Eat carbohydrates! You should have carbohydrates I don’t care what the meat/protein eating dieters say. Carbohydrates give you much needed fiber and fuel. Make sure you eat whole grain varieties of breads, pastas and cereals EVERYDAY.
Lastly, eat fat! Of course, remember, our bodies don’t need a lot. Fat is the smallest triangle on the food pyramid. A thin slab of butter on a piece of whole wheat toast will suffice. If you cook with olive oil, you probably are already getting enough fat in your diet. If you are like my son, he claims daily bacon consumption is a must. Two slices of bacon will give you plenty of needed fat. So will a small sliver of pie or peanut butter crackers.
My favorite “fat” snack is cheese. I could eat an entire block of cheese at one sitting – but I don’t. I purposely cut 5-6 slices off the block and put the rest away. My rule is that if I’ve closed it or put it back in the fridge, I’m done.
My hope is that you will read this and realize that making a small shift in your thinking about the word diet can change your relationship with food.
P.S. If you are reading this, you are probably already health conscious. If you know someone that “yo-yo” diets, or suffers from food related issues, insist that they read this column. Be a healthy lifestyle missionary and spread the good news.
Also, send you questions to suzanne_mcginnis@bellsouth.net.