Heads up! You're getting personal trainer Jewel in this one.
This was not my original post for today, but since the topic has come across multiple times within twenty four hours, I figure this is a good topic to handle. January is one of my least favorite months. For one, it's cold. Two, it's dreary. Three, everyone wants to become someone they weren't just a few short days ago. That's right, I hate resolutions. Happy New Year! Now what can we changed for you? I get it. A fresh start to the new year sounds invigorating. However, if you can't start and accomplish in June, you most likely won't in January. It's a mindset thing. Hold on. I'm on a tangent. Anyway, with people changing who they are, many choose to change their physique. Some do this by exercise. Some do this by changing their eating habits. Some decide to stop smoking, drinking, etc. Well, in September I changed my diet. Stop. Read again. I changed my diet. I did not "go on a diet." NOOOOOOOOOO. Bad marketers! Bad! Let's explore the world of diet. To explore the world, we must first explore the word. I can remember the days of middle school health. We always talked about exercise and nutrition. One teacher drilled it into our heads, "Diet is just a word meaning what someone eats." This was in the time of Atkins and just after low to no fat. I try to emphasize this with my clients. Diet is just a word meaning what you eat. Unfortunately, it has turned into something else. Diet became a word meaning that we are restricted to or from certain foods. We have the Mediterranean diet, DASH diet, Low/High fodmaps diet. Of course, people don't know those as well as they do keto, low carb, low fat, high protein, Atkins, and more. So why is there a shift? The original purpose of diets came from doctors and nutritionists working with people having particular health issues. The DASH diet is for people with heart issues. For someone needing help managing their blood pressure, this is a great start. The Mediterranean diet is simply eating like people that live in that region. The fish and fresh produce make for healthy balanced eating habits. Even keto claims to have begun in the brain of a doctor. Why? Well, not everyone can process sugars properly. Here's the thing I hope people take away. There is no right answer for all. Just as my husband can eat all day long and gain maybe two pounds if he's lucky, I need to stay within my limits to not gain seven in a weekend. I can stand next to someone who is the same height and weight as I am. However, I can eat bread, rice, pasta, pretzels, basically all the good things, and still be okay. They however, might not be able to process sugars and that could send them into some diabetic shock that would not be good. Think of it this way. Men and beer. Some men can drink six cans, give a belch and go run five miles singing all the way. A second group might drink the same amount in the same time, puke and go to bed. A third group could drink four beers in the same time, get a gut, and pass out. What is beer? Carbs. Sugars. If your body is capable of processing the alcohol, you could end up fine. Alcohol has different effects on people and we don't bat an eye. Sure, we might call McGee a lightweight, but we don't shame him enough to learn to drink better. (I hope not, anyway.) But this is what we do with every other item of food that goes into our bodies. I guarantee that anyone reading this could list at least two people they know that are keto people. Why do I know this? Because if keto worked for that person, they share it with everyone! But keto doesn't work for everyone. We must be careful in what we share, how we share, and why we share. If I give my diet to someone else, it could cause them damage to their organs. I can share my knowledge through the lens of my scope of practice. Anything more is dangerous. So, people have asked about what diet I'm on. None. I'm not on a diet. My diet includes all the food groups. My diet includes proper portions. Due to medical issues, I have been told that a certain diet is the right fit for me. I do not exclude anything (check my Girl Scout cookies on the table. I opened each one for myself.) I have adjusted how I eat throughout the day for my health, but I'm not on a diet. I just eat healthier. Sure, there's a name, but guess what - it doesn't tell me to get rid of something or add something. It's all about being moderate in what I eat so that I can help my body process things properly. Here is one thing that I can promise you: If it is a fad diet (meaning mainstream, we all know about it) I won't be doing it. If my doctor recommends a change up, that's a consideration I will make. I need science. I need my body, not others. Sorry, you aren't me. I won't force you into my box, and I hope you can respect me in the same way. Diet (n): the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats. Looks like America is on the lazy man, fast food, what's the easiest, diet.
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