Why You Should Never Say ''I'm On a Diet''
Did you click on this because of the thumbnail? Good. It's a super flattering picture of me at my bridal shower.
Okay let's talk about "diet." Tell me if you have heard of any of these phrases: Diet and exercise, on a diet, diet plan. The problem with most people's conception of diet is that it's something temporary. "I'm on a diet" often suggests a means to an end. Once I lose so many pounds, I won't be on a diet anymore. WRONG.
English major here, so bear with me. There are two definitions to the word "diet."
1. The kinds of foods that a person, animal, or community habitually eats
2. A special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons
So yes, grammatically you would be correct to say you are on a diet if, for example, you decide not to eat sugar for a month to lose weight. That isn't to say the first definition of diet disappears. Your "diet" is to remove sugar from your "diet."
My point being, what happens when that month is over? Let's say you do go without sugar for a month and lose 10 pounds. The diet worked. However, it's what your diet looks like after that month that determines whether or not you keep those 10 pounds off, right? So perhaps we shouldn't look at diet as something temporary but look closer at what we "habitually" eat. Temporary diets lead to temporary results. A permanent change in lifestyle that consists of a healthy diet and regular exercise leads to long-term weight loss and a slew of other health benefits.
Here's that picture again:
What a long-term diet should look like for you is another can of worms entirely. It's different from person to person because we all have different bodies. I do encourage you to ditch the "quick fixes" and look into how you can improve your diet (the first definition of the word) for the better, for good!
If you would like an idea of what my workouts look like each day, be sure to follow me on Instagram @okto21k
Talk soon!
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or a certified trainer. All opinions expressed in my posts are simply to share my fitness journey and what has worked for me. You are encouraged to seek the advice of a medical professional before starting any exercise program.
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