We know what you’re thinking, “how could diets simply fall away from our lives?”
The truth is that diets themselves aren’t exactly dying out. It’s more a matter of the lingo used – and a drive towards healthy eating in general. According to the Washington Post, cookbooks are ditching the word diet and replacing it with the idea of rebooting one’s system. It’s a subtle change, but it could make all the difference in the world of healthy eating.
The Problem with Diets
Diets are generally meant to affect a person’s weight in some way. Usually, diets are aimed at losing weight – or at least body fat in troubling areas. Of course, there are diets designed to help you bulk up too, though these often relate to medical conditions (and gym bunnies). For many years, diets were seen as a short-term attack, something that had to be endured until an ideal weight was achieved. After that, it was back to eating what you like, when you wanted it.
That’s where the problem occurs. Diets, besides being a rather militant way to deal with an (often) emotional problem, often fail in the long term. Sure, you’ll lose weight, but you’ll also put it right back on unless you maintain a healthy eating regime, backed by physical activity in your daily life.
Rebooting your system is a complicated way of saying diet. But, the shift in perception could make a difference. The re-phrasing implies a short-term action plan with a shift towards healthy eating following. The after the period isn’t necessarily there with a reboot any more than it is with a diet; it’s just how we perceive it. And if it works for you, that’s all that matters.
Making Healthy Eating Choices
Whether you call it a diet or a reboot doesn’t matter. If you want to lose weight, it’s all about making healthy eating choices. And, yes, that’s now and for a very long time to come. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have fat-laden, deep-fried chicken wings. It just means you can’t have them all the time.
Of course, you’re welcome to rush out to buy a handful of new reboot cookbooks (or more accurately, you won’t rush anywhere since these are a popular online shopping item). But, there are a few solid healthy eating choices you can make now to improve your chances of any reboot or diet dramatically helping with your weight-loss goals.
Become Friends with Your Kitchen – Convenience meals (whether you find them in the supermarket freezer or the nearest drive-through) are heavy in salt, fats, and preservatives. Cooking for yourself offers the opportunity to eliminate some of these waistline killers. It also provides control over ingredients, flavors and portion sizes. It enables you to choose healthy eating more often.
Be Aware of What You Eat – Most people have no idea how much they eat, or even what a healthy portion of protein looks like (HINT: It’s usually a lot less than you’d think.) Spend some time learning about food. What’s good for you? What sounds like it should be good for you, but really isn’t it? How big should a portion of red meat be? Awareness of and knowledge about your food will make it easier for you to make changes to the way you eat.
Healthy Eating Is Taking Over
Make Healthy Eating Choices… Most of the Time – We told you that you don’t have to relinquish those chicken wings – and we mean it too. But, you shouldn’t have them frequently. (Don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy your favorite super hot sauces.) If you’re consciously choosing the foods that work with your metabolism and digestive system most of the time, you shouldn’t have to worry about those wings, burgers, cheesy pizzas or anything else that you can’t stop craving.
It should also go without saying that a little Mad Dog goes a long way. Truly. We’re not just saying that. The high Scoville rating of our hot sauces means that you get plenty of capsaicin in every drop. And, this miracle worker boosts your metabolism, controls appetite and still adds plenty of flavor to your meals. It’s good for you whether you’re on a diet, scheduling a reboot or simply opting for healthy eating in 2015. And that’s hot.
