Lifestyle Versus Diet
Experts say we should treat a healthy diet as a component of a healthy lifestyle. We should tell ourselves that we are not on a diet but rather adopting a new way of eating for life.
Healthy Lifestyle Versus Diet
Healthy lifesylers eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein.
Dieters pay $20 to download an eating plan that promises they’ll drop 9 lbs. in a week.
Healthy lifestylers encorporate exercise into each day as if it were as integral to the day as brushing one’s teath.
Dieters pay $1000 for a treadmill, use it for a week, and then hang stuff on it.
Healthy lifestylers sit down and luxuriate in each meal.
Dieters eat crap that’s off plan in the car hoping no one sees.
Healthy lifestylers enjoy a walk after dinner most nights.
Dieters purchase a giant pink exercise ball that’s only purpose is to frustrate the heck out of the dog.
Healthy lifestylers stop eating just before they feel full.
Dieters eat potato chips as if they will be moving to the moon tomorrow and never have access to the glorious morsels again.
Healthy lifestylers focus on visiting with family and friends at the holidays.
Dieters worry about eating too much pumpkin pie and then do.
Healthy lifestylers might eat a little too much ham so they pack up the leftovers and give them away.
Dieters say, oh screw it, a lot.
Healthy lifestylers always eat as though they’re on “maintenance.”
Dieters, “What’s maintenance?”
Healthy Lifestylers float in the same weight range give or take five pounds.
Dieters gain.
What else do healthy lifestylers do?
P.S. I’m only relaying what healthy lifestylers do. I’ve only visited Healthy Lifestyle Planet I live on Planet Diet.
Exactly! diets are really only temporary because not to many people stick to diets so the weight loss is temporary. A healthy lifestyle/eating plan is how we are suppose to eat and live.
Denise
I have to continue to remind myself this stuff.
Kiki
I know what healthy lifestylers do. Just like I know what celebrities do (you know, with the help of our friends, the paparazzi). Some days, though, I think my chances of becoming a celeb are about as good as my chances of becoming a HL. Because I’ve been a dieter for a loooong time, and much as I hate it, it sure is comfy here!
Photoqueens last blog post..I’m thankful for my friend and mentor.
It’s not like I don’t know this. I mean, intellectually I get it. Clearly, I have an emotional eating issue. Seriously, I am raising healthy eaters. When my kids say they’re hungry I offer choices of fruit, cheese, yogurt, or popcorn. Their lunchboxes are healthy smorgasborgs. Last night my daughter requested one of my FiberOne yogurts for dessert!
In order to raise these kids right, I hide my crappy eating. I know I can’t say do as I say, not as I do. So, I eat crap when I’m on my way home from work or after they’ve gone to bed. Pathetic, I know.
Hey, at least my kids won’t have my demons. Now, if I can just remember that I WILL see potato chips again, lol!
Reegs last blog post..I Need to Get My Sh*t Together!
In my more cynical and bitter moments, I think that “healthy lifestylers” are just people who’ve never been truly fat or had an eating disorders. No moral high ground; just luck.
Lizs last blog post..When the Moon Hits Your Eye
Sounds about right. I’m a dieter that sometimes masquerades as a healthy lifestyler; usually the healthy lifestylers find me out and run me out of town with torches, pitchforks, a bag of chips and a large pizza. I’m bad element they don’t want to expose their fledgling healthy lifestyling children to.
The healthy lifestyle worked for my husband; he lost over 100 pounds! He said it was easy after the first month…
That was 3 years ago; and I’m still dieting! *lol*
If only it were easy…
I totally agree with Liz. I think people who have never had a weight problem are the smug ones who say it’s all a matter of “making healthy choices.” It’s kind of like a man telling you how to have a baby.
Shelleys last blog post..Silliness
for me it was a lifestyle shift…BUT it took 36 years of dieting and, well, F*CKING AROUND to get here.
now Im just hoping to stay…
MizFits last blog post..It’s WORLD DIABETES DAY, People.
Great take on healthy lifestyle vs. dieting. Funny stuff. I’m a fan of the healthy lifestyle…it just feels better!
Blakes last blog post..Quick Thought on Exercise
Good stuff. I should print it up and post it in my office.
Thanks all! Post it anywhere you’d like.
Kiki
Wow, great post! Very insightful and great comparison!
Sharons last blog post..Making do with what’s in the fridge
I’m an ex-obese person, and I do healthy lifestyle. I wouldn’t go near a diet for anything. It never worked for me, just made me binge.
Great comparisons! What’s really cool is that it is 100% possible to (mostly) switch from being a dieter to living the healthy lifestyle.
I would add:
Healthy lifestylers recognize special events (birthdays/major holidays) and celebrate them appropriately.
Dieters celebrate birthdays & major holidays, along with other special events, like catching all green lights on the way to work or walking to the mailbox and back. (Or was that just me?*G*)
Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..The Week That Was
Liz … that was deep.
I am a fan of the healthy lifestyle as is Blake and understand it takes great effort, as Mizfit pointed out. I, like Julie, am ex-obese and it was a complete overhaul of diet and exercise habits to get down. I’m still not down to where I should be, but I definitely see a difference from where I was a few years ago.
It’s no easy. Some have to work harder than others. But it’s like school. Everyone can get A’s. It will just take work and dedication. And yes… some will have to study more than others. Later today, I will start a tutorial for having success with a healthy lifestyle, even when friends won’t let you. It’s all about baby-steps… It’s about changing one or two habits at a time and not moving forwards until they have been mastered. The tutorial will be at the site listed below.
A healthy lifestyle is the way to go. Diets do not work. They merely make us believe they are effective and we forget to realize we gain weight back as soon as we resume regular eating. Some of these diets have also been linked to health issues. And no… surgery is probably not the answer either.
Great post, Rebecca.
Kevin :: Glyco Trainer
On Twitter: @glycotrainer
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