Why You Should Ditch the Diet in the New Year
By Genevieve Cunningham
For many of us, the word “diet” induces a bit of panic in our souls. It’s almost a dirty word; it’s something that we like to think about in theory, but not really something that we want to enact in our lives. Unfortunately, the word diet has been misused so often over the years, we’ve given it a horrible connotation that is unlikely to be shaken any time soon. Technically, diet simply refers to what we eat, but most of us actually think of all of the things that we can’t eat on a diet. Either way, most of us spend our lives bouncing between trying that brand new diet and avoiding any possible mention of the word. Luckily, this year might be the perfect year to get in better health without having to resort to this dirty word. Take a look at these three great reasons to ditch the diet this year without risking your chances of getting fit and healthy.
Diets Don’t Work, Lifestyles Do
If you want to go on a healthy eating path, that’s awesome! But you shouldn’t think of it as a diet, as diets simply don’t work in the long run. Instead, you should focus on changing your entire lifestyle for the better. Go into your healthy eating adventure without an end day in sight. If you’re looking at the grapefruit diet, ask yourself whether you can sustain this for the rest of your life. If the answer is no, keep looking! Changing your lifestyle absolutely has lasting potential, so focus on this and the rest will fall into place.
Understanding Nutrition Has Lifelong Benefits
Many people skip the most important part of improving a diet: Gaining an understanding of nutrition. Make sure that you’re not only changing foods and cutting calories, but that you understand why you are doing so. Why are you choosing fish instead of steak? Why are you skipping desserts? It’s the basic understanding of why you’re doing what you’re doing that matters the most.
Positive Words Lead to Positive Results
It might seem silly, but your own inner dialogue plays a huge role in your overall success. If you tell yourself that you’re going on a diet, you’re more likely to feel deprived. Instead, focus on more positive wording to keep yourself motivated. You’re not dieting … you’re making healthy choices. You’re not cutting calories … you’re eating appropriate portions. The more positive you keep your mind, the more success you’ll find in the long haul.
While it’s a wonderful idea to change your eating habits and improve your health, it’s important to go about it in the right manner. Don’t focus on dieting. Focus on boosting your health and feeling your best. Taking this approach will leave you healthier than ever with a lifetime of wellness at your doorstep.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
