You're STILL on that DIET???

DIETING VS. BEING HEALTHY: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

When I first started changing my eating habits, it was probably somewhere around the millionth time I had promised myself I'd lose weight and change. Over the years I've done the whole yo-yo thing and used all kinds of questionable means. But this time...this time, it was different. I knew that. I knew it to my very core. Nobody else knew it, but I knew. 

So how, you ask, did I KNOW that this time was different? Because I wasn't dieting. I was "living a healthy lifestyle." To those who asked me what my secret was or asked what "diet" I was doing, I tried to make it abundantly clear that this was NOT A DIET!!! IT'S JUST HOW I EAT!!! It got frustrating at times to have to constantly convey this point to people. The implication that I was dieting was almost insulting, because I knew that it was so much more than that. But over time I came to realize that instead of being annoyed by the question, I should take a minute to think it over, and get to the bottom of why this was such a common misconception. 

The truth is that there can sometimes be a fine line between dieting and "healthy" or "clean" eating. When you're looking at it from afar, they do actually seem like the same thing. But they are not. There are actually a number of differences between the two.

1. One of the main characteristics in any weight loss diet is self-deprivation. Whether it's depriving yourself of calories, carbs, or fat, this is a common theme among all "diet" plans. And while there is no denying that healthy eating to lose weight DOES rely on a calorie deficit (since this is the only way to actually lose body fat), it is more about SUPPLYING YOUR BODY WITH NUTRIENTS rather than DEPRIVING YOUR BODY OF FOOD. (See how I turned that around??? It's all about perspective - it changes a lot!) Anyone can lose weight if they eat less calories than their body needs. It's science - pure and simple. If your maintenance calories are 2500 calories a day (JUST AN EXAMPLE!) and you eat 2000 calories a day in Pop-Tarts you will lose weight, sure. The problem is that you won't look or feel as good as if you are supplying your body with 2000 calories of whole, unprocessed nutrient-dense food. Shifting the focus from restricting food that will make you fat to including food that will make you healthy is where the difference lies.

2. Diets are temporary and therefore yield temporary results, whereas healthy eating is meant to be a lifelong commitment. It's not realistic to think that you can maintain the drastic requirements of fad diets long-term or that the results of said diet will be permanent. Just ask any fitness model or competitive bodybuilder and they will tell you that even under the expert watch of professional coaches, the extremes they have to go to, dieting down for a photoshoot or a show are not something they would want to do on a permanent basis, nor is it in their best interest healthwise. Furthermore, once you go off the diet and back to your "normal" eating habits, whatever progress you saw will quickly disappear. Since living a healthy lifestyle doesn't require you to go to drastic self-deprivation measures, it is much easier to continue long-term, ensuring that you will be able to maintain your results.

3. This last one is going to come out sounding harsh, but after trying to word it a thousand different ways, I realized there's just no better way to put it, so here goes: Diets are designed to appeal to the impatient, lazy and ignorant - and I do mean that in the nicest way possible! The reality is that fad diets are created for the masses, and let's face it - the masses are compiled of busy people who want to see results YESTERDAY and don't "have the time or energy" for research, food preparation, and long-term goals. In contrast, healthy eating DEPENDS on research, knowledge and a commitment to hard work over a long period of time. I've spent countless hours sitting in front of a computer, researching, and barely even scratched the surface. I've also put in many, many months of hard work training at the gym, and hours planning and preparing my meals. To this day I'm still not where I want to be, but I'm okay with it because I know that I have the rest of my life to continue working toward both my short-term and long-term goals. 

Have I had people tell me I'm nuts for doing what I do? All the time! It used to bother me, but not anymore and this is why: I am committed to living a healthy lifestyle because it makes me happy - and that's worth SOOOO much more than any "diet". Is it hard at times? Yes - I'm not going to lie - to commit to a life of healthy living requires dedication, time, and hard work. It may not give you overnight results, and yes, it may interfere with your schedule at times. But with it, comes a greater understanding and appreciation for what your body and your mind are capable of, given the chance to shine!

THAT is the difference between "dieting" and BEING HEALTHY.