Where dieting differs from lifestyle

The recent fat loss stint I’ve been on has really highlighted the effects of “dieting”.

It has shown what can be achieved when you put your mind to something. But too just how unsustainable the white knuckling approach really is.

When we “diet”, we modify what we eat in order to produce an outcome. Lose a certain amount of weight, achieve peak performance, improve health markers, etc.

But the nature of dieting (the white knuckling) almost determines that what we achieve is not going to be sustained.

Why?

We inherently take on, do things, we don’t really want to be doing in order to achieve the targets we’ve set.

And, what you do to achieve the goal, is likely what’s needed in order to sustain the goal.

I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with this; so long as this is your expectation going into that “dieting” period.

But this is where dieting differs from changing your lifestyle.

If losing weight, being healthy, getting fitter is a goal you wish to sustain over the long term, without the yo-yo, then shifting away from a “dieting” mindset (that doesn’t mean you won’t need to alter your diet) is likely needed to be successful.

When we’ve changed our lifestyle we keep most of what we’ve achieved because the things we have done have become our new way of living… There’s no end.

Think about that for a second…

How much of what you are currently doing on your own diet are you currently dreading?

How much are you only doing because you know it will lead to you losing weight?

A lifestyle is the continuation of behaviours because you value those behaviours, not because they produce a certain result.

To shift away from dieting mindset and into a lifestyle requires a two pronged approach:

1.Learn to enjoy the behaviours that are going to be good for you.

Online content muddies the waters on what this is, but it doesn’t need to be complicated; and I think we can all agree and already have some understanding of what this looks like: drink water, get enough sleep, eat minimally processed food, high protein, high fruits and vegetables, cook at home, minimal alcohol.

2.Shed light on the behaviours that stand in our way.

This is where our road blocks, plateaus, self sabotaging efforts, hick ups, and “begin agains” always happen. Keeping these in the dark will keep you locked into the “dieting” mindset. You’ll use dieting as a solution to the hick ups you have. Dieting “harder” to try and lose more weight. And more restriction typically feeds back into the loop of more road blocks, more hick ups, and more beginning again.

The former (enjoying what’s good for you) is going to be easier than the later; but both need our time and attention (if your goal is lifestyle).

From a food perspective, shifting from a mindset that reads like: “I have to eat that” toward “I get to eat that” is a good start.

And honestly that’s as simple as finding ways of cooking the same ol’ food differently. In a way that you find tasty.

Try to find a new way to cook an ingredient you find rather boring. Whether that’s changing the cooking technique (baking rather than boiling), trying a new recipe, or pairing it with a different food to create a new flavour combo.

Heck, give these baked oats a try!

You’ll eventually find something you like and then that food (which we know to be good for us) becomes enjoyable.