7 Things To Know Before You Start A New Diet

Do you remember the story of Ebenezer Scrooge? He was visited by the Ghost’s of Christmas to gain an understanding of what was and is yet to come. What if you were visited by the ghost of diseases to come?

The Ghost of Hypertension shows you that you are a ticking time bomb. Now, here comes the Ghost of Diabetes and, it produces a future of vision loss or amputation. The Ghost of Cardiovascular disease points out death, and lastly, the Ghost of Stroke demonstrates life with limited function.  Would you then give up your gold (i.e. things that may hamper our health but we love or are addicted) for a better life like Scrooge?

Yet, when it comes to bettering our life by changing our diet, how do you choose the right one? Unfortunately, $6 billion dollars per year are spent on quackery diet plans. In fact, you may know someone that found success on such diets. This does not mean it is good or will work for you long term.

Interestingly, diets come from many different angles and thoughts. Mainly, a diet restricts something which limits food intake, thereby reducing caloric consumption. First, do you like being told “No?” Of course not! Then, a quick fix diet is not the best option. We also know there are a lot of promises from diets. This phrase sums it up nicely, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Here are some things to look for when you decide you need to go on a diet.

The 7 Lifestyle Tips To Dieting

1. Why do you need to diet? You need to understand your why. In the end, this is of the upmost importance to your successful completion and continuation long term
2. Your diet plan should meet nutritional needs. Nutritional density is the aim here. More so, your plan should not restrict foods. Yes, they should help moderate certain food substances, but by restricting them, you are setting yourself up for a future demise.
3. Expect slow weight loss. Sadly, there is no lottery for weight loss. This journey, realistically, is about improving your health behaviors day in and out. In fact, after 10% weight loss; you need to maintain it for 6 months to establish a new set point. Furthermore, this approach limits a Yo-yo diet.
4. There are no magic foods. Importantly, all food increase metabolism via the thermic effect of food. However, some foods are touted as metabolic enhancers. Truth be told, there are foods that increase the thermic effect, yet you still have to remove the triple bypass grease burger from your diet. Basically, you can eradicate the copious amounts of calories from not eating in moderation by adding a metabolic aid such as caffeine to your diet.  
5. Can you make it a lifestyle? Ultimately, it needs to fit into your life not interrupt it.  An all cabbage and dark chocolate diet sounds amazing until you are at a friend’s, event, or other life setting. If it is too complex for everyday scenarios, the long term success is unlikely.
6. Change problem eating habits. Do you eat when you are bored, frustrated, lonely, sad, or other emotion? Identifying the triggers to eating without cause is important in changing that behavior. Moreover, you need to build positive habits you can stick to once desired weight is achieved. Your habit has to change or your diet and long term health success is likely to fail.
7. See a doctor and dietician. It is always good to seek professional guidance on your pursuit to better health.

In summary, there are tons of books, articles, and videos promoting fast weight loss through their system. Yet, if the focus of the diet is not systematic lifestyle change, you can plan to encounter a lapse, relapse, and finally a collapse. Instead, plan to gradually change your behavior day by day and those health and weight goals will stick around for life. Rise and shine, my fitness friends!

Yours In Health,

Jerry Cox