dieting is for the birds ...

It happens every year. We ring in the new year and everyone jumps on the latest fad diet bandwagon. 

I don't diet. I hate diets. Diets usually don't work.

However, I am all about someone making the decision to live a healthier lifestyle.

Is dieting the best way to do that? Eh. For the sake of not hurting any one's feelings, sure. 

In all honesty though, diets aren't the best way to improve your eating habits and they usually lead to a lack in nutrients.

I've heard a few different fad diets mentioned in the last few weeks, but the one I keep hearing about the most is the Paleo diet. For those of you who don't know what the heck the Paleo diet is, it's a diet based around eating only foods that our hairy knuckled neanderthal ancestors munched on 10,000+ years ago ... ... ....

I have done a lot of research on this diet. Like most fad diets, it has its pros and cons. It is a diet that consists only of meats, vegetables, fruits, roots, nuts, fungi, and fish. It strictly prohibits any legumes, grains, dairy, refined salts and sugars, and processed oils.

At first glance this diet doesn't look too shabby. Like most fad diets it cuts out all of your carbs. 

What an original idea! 

This is actually my biggest issue with this diet and pretty much all fad diets - and this is exactly why they don't work. You can't/shouldn't maintain any diet that doesn't allow for carbs.

News flash: YOUR BODY REQUIRES CARBS!

With the Paleo diet you are only consuming about 20-25% of your recommended daily carb intake. 

I am not saying you should stuff your face with a bunch of pasta, bread, and rice every single day. I get it, I avoid a large carb intake like the rest of you. However, is a piece of whole wheat toast and some quinoa for dinner going to kill you and make you fat? Nope. 

Your brain REQUIRES carbohydrates for energy. Your body REQUIRES carbohydrates for metabolism (and when it isn't using carbohydrates for metabolism it goes into a state of ketosis, which is hard on your liver). So while you may lose some weight initially because you are depriving your body of necessary nutrients, you will just gain all of it back once you start eating normally again.

Soooo, my point is - instead of starting some ridiculous fad diet just make a few lifestyle changes. :)

For example ...

- Increase your fruit and vegetable intake (include a fruit and vegetable with EVERY meal)

- When you do eat carbs (because you should eat carbs!), make sure you're eating whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, or quinoa (save the cakes, cookies, pies, and other crap for very special occasions)

- Avoid eating pasta with heavy sauces (for instance, don't eat alfredo sauces - they are the worst. seriously.)

- If you're a meat eater, only eat lean meats or fish (also, try and make AT LEAST one day a week meat free!)

- Increase your fiber intake. You should be consuming 25-35 grams of fiber every. single. day. This keeps things movin' and groovin'. 

- Eat at home. 

- Don't make dinner the largest meal of the day - it's better to eat a larger lunch.

- Limit alcohol intake (if you do drink, try and go for low calorie options)

- Don't drink your calories - put down the 1000 calorie chocolate frap with extra chocolate swirls from Starbucks and go with an iced tea or regular coffee. 

- Drink lots and lots and lots and lots of water! I've said it before and I'll say it again, most of the time when we are "hungry" we are really just thirsty. Stay hydrated and drink a large glass of water before meals.

- When you have a sweet tooth eat something sweet (makes sense to me), but choose something low cal. A small frozen yogurt, a couple scoops of coconut milk chocolate ice cream, a couple of cookies (not the whole bag), a handful of dried fruit ... you get it. Don't deprive yourself or you will just end up binging on an entire pint of Ben and Jerry's and regret it.

- EXERCISE!

So there you have it. Just a few helpful ways of achieving a healthier lifestyle!

If you are participating in the Paleo diet or any other fad diet and it's working for you, go for it. However, make sure you are educating yourself and make sure you understand the risks involved. This post is not to insult anyone or poke fun, it is simply my honest (and educated ...) opinion. :) 

xoxo

*image is from pinterest.