Wellness Wednesday: Approach Your Diet Like You Approach Your Dating Life
When it comes to choosing a diet, looking at what works for your best friend, gym buddy, sister, co-worker, favorite celebrity, or Instagram model is usually a bad idea. Just like dating, dieting should align with your personal preferences and lifestyle.
Imagine you’re on the dating scene. Would you choose a partner solely based on what your best friend or favorite celebrity likes? Probably not. You would look for someone who shares your values, interests, and complements your lifestyle. Maybe you value a good sense of humor, kindness, and shared hobbies. Similarly, a sustainable diet should reflect your tastes, preferences, and daily routine.
Values in Dating and Qualities in Dieting
Values in Dating
In dating, we often seek partners who:
Share Our Interests: Whether it's a love for hiking, cooking, or binge-watching shows, shared interests keep the relationship enjoyable.
Understand Our Lifestyle: If you're a night owl, dating an early bird might be a challenge. Similarly, if you love spontaneity, a partner who plans everything might not be a great fit.
Align with Our Values: Respect, honesty, and shared future goals are crucial for a lasting relationship.
Make Us Feel Good: Ultimately, a good partner makes you feel happy, secure, and appreciated.
Qualities in Dieting
Now, let’s translate this into dieting. A sustainable diet should:
Include Foods You Enjoy: If you love pasta, a no-carb diet will feel like torture. Your diet should include foods that you look forward to eating.
Fit Your Routine: If you’re always on the go, a plan that requires elaborate meal prep may not be practical. A diet should fit seamlessly into your daily life.
Align with Your Health Goals: Whether it’s improving energy levels, losing weight, or building muscle, your diet should support your specific health objectives.
Be Enjoyable and Sustainable: Just like a good relationship, a good diet makes you feel happy and satisfied. It shouldn’t be a source of stress or frustration.
Real-Life Examples: Dating and Dieting Gone Wrong
Let’s take a look at some real-life examples to highlight these points.
Dating Examples
Mismatch No. 1: You’re a foodie who loves trying new restaurants, but your date insists on sticking to their strict, home-cooked vegan diet. While admirable, it might not be the best match for your adventurous palate.
Mismatch No. 2: You love spontaneous road trips, but your partner meticulously plans every detail. Their need for control might dampen your spirit of adventure.
Mismatch No. 3: You value open communication and expressiveness, but your partner is reserved and struggles to share their feelings. This mismatch can lead to misunderstandings and frustration.
Dieting Examples
Bad Diet Relationship No. 1: Molly loves pasta but decides to try a low-carb diet. She manages for four to six weeks before she snaps and spends the next month eating out at her favorite Italian spot. She concludes that dieting just doesn't work for her.
Bad Diet Relationship No. 2: Paul loves dessert but decides to follow a clean eating plan of chicken and broccoli. This satisfies him for about two weeks before he becomes grumpy and hates his life.
Bad Diet Relationship No. 3: Rebecca loves breakfast, her favorite meal of the day. But she hears that intermittent fasting is effective, so she starts eating only from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. This relationship quickly sours.
Find Your Perfect Match
Just as a compatible partner enhances your life, the right diet can boost your health and well-being. "Do what works for your body" is simple advice, but it works incredibly well. You have a different body from your friends or siblings, so why wouldn’t you make personalized adjustments that fit your needs? You can build a healthy diet that includes higher carbs, allows dessert, and may or may not include breakfast.
The Key to Sustainable Weight Loss
If you want to live a healthy, low-stress life, consider whether a diet plan is a good fit for you. If it’s not, look for something else. There are many options, and a lot of them work, no matter what certain experts may say.
At the end of the day, weight loss starts with burning more calories than you consume (science nerds call this a “caloric deficit”). This is just the beginning, and many other factors must be considered. But starting with something doable will prevent you from feeling exhausted and frustrated after just a few weeks.
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