Welcome. What Do We Mean by Diet or Lifestyle Change? In other words, a diet is a short-term “fix” or adjustment, such as needing to drop 10-20 lbs. for a vacation or reunion, while a lifestyle change is a lasting modification in how you approach your health and wellness. Some of the characteristics when people think of a diet include:
- Weight loss can be quick and in a very short period.
- Foods are either “good” or “bad” for you.
- Copy diets that works for other people (ex: The Ketogenic Diet [Keto] or that is popular right now, so everyone assumes this will work for them.
- Restrict calorie consumption because the thought or you assume less calories mean less weight.
- Use the scale to check your progress while not factoring in other areas of improvement.
- Stick to a low fat or a low-calorie food because they have less calories.
Some of the characteristics with lifestyle changes include:
- Nourish your body by eating more whole foods, which keeps you satisfied longer.
- Stop restricting foods and focus on simply moderation.
- Exercise on a regular basis, even if your limited on time and only have fifteen or twenty minutes.
- Listen to your body to find out what it needs.
- Keep weight loss to ½ lb. to 1 lb. a week.
- Use more than just the scale to track progress. For example, you could use body measurements like body fat testing or simply checking to see if your clothes fit better.
When you change your focus to more of a long-term lifestyle mindset, you tend to be kinder to your body. You will most likely experience things such as less hunger, exhaustion, mental stress, and food deprivation. Keep in mind that when you make lifestyle changes with a focus on weight loss, it may take longer to see the weight come off. However, the weight is more likely to stay off because it’s not a sudden change for your body. There are numerous studies showing that individuals who diet typically regain most, if not all, of the weight back they lost. Some can even see more weight come on after they stop their diet. So, that’s not good!
Lifestyle changes can be discouraging at first because it takes longer to see the results of all your hard work. However, the results that you do get will last, and you are more focused on your overall health and wellness rather than just weight, or a number. You will not regret the results you see from changing your lifestyle. As long as you stick with it and it’s a way of life.
The biggest difference between going on a diet and changing your lifestyle that people must realize is that a diet will always be short term, no matter how long you stay on it. While you may see the results you want on your diet, chances are that when you go back to “normal living,” your weight will come back and then some. Diets, more times than not, are about restrictions, limitations, and cutting foods from your diet. But when you think long term, cutting out foods permanently doesn’t seem like a very realistic option.
A lifestyle change is long term, but you still see the results and it completely changes your life. For example, if you like to enjoy a late-night snack, a diet might have you completely cut out that food while a lifestyle change would be figuring out the best way to fuel your body. That might not mean cutting that food out completely, but maybe not eating it right before bed, or maybe just eating less of it.
If you’re looking for results that will last, it’s important that you work towards a lifestyle change, not a diet. Your first step with this lifestyle change should be determining your goal — why are you making this change? For example, if it’s weight loss you’re after, think about what your end goal is . Don’t settle on the “perfect number” because when it comes to getting healthier, it’s not always about the number on the scale. Once you have your goal, think about how you live now and what changes you will need (and want) to make in order to reach your goal. This could be things such as drinking less soda or eating healthier alternatives. Rather than cutting things from your diet, find out ways you can make them healthier or stick to the portion recommendations.
I hope these tips help! Let me know what changes you made and why. I always love to hear from my readers and subscribers. You all are the reason I am here! Keep up the good work and I hope you live a happier, healthier life.
Until next time.
Take care,
Darren
Harmony Shift 