Diet has to be one of the most controversial topics in the fitness industry. When you start looking into which diet you should follow, you automatically get overwhelmed with options. Some examples include paleo, zone, counting macros, keto, and intermittent fasting.
With so many options, the question becomes...which diet should you follow? The answer is: it depends. I know this is probably not what you want to hear. The truth is there are a number of factors that come in to play when figuring out which diet to follow and everyone is different. When you learn that each diet has its own advantages and disadvantages, it really does become tricky. You need to find what works for you and your lifestyle. So how do you figure that out? Ask yourself these three questions:
1. Will this diet help me achieve my health and fitness goals? By determining what you are trying to achieve, you will be able to cut out some of the options. Trying to get stronger? Then doing keto probably isn't a good option because you won't get in enough calories to gain muscle. Trying to lose weight? Then maybe you consider counting your macros because this will allow you to lose weight at a sustainable pace. This will also help you prioritize and define your most important goals if you have multiple or conflicting goals (e.g., trying to get huge while also getting toned). Figuring out your short and long term goals may not necessarily give you a clear answer as to which diet to pursue, but it will start to point you in the right direction.
2. Will the diet be sustainable long term? Ultimately we don't want to pick up a diet for 3 months and then call it quits. We want to make how we eat to become part of our lifestyle. If your eating habits become routine, not only will you make progress in the short term but you will continue to progress in the long term. For example, a strict paleo diet maybe be difficult for some to maintain for longer than 1-3 months at a time... inevitably you’ll find yourself in a situation where you have to eat and sticking rigidly to your paleo diet just isn't an option. The same goes for Keto... there will be a time where you have to eat and carbs might be the only option.
3. How will I hold myself accountable? Getting your nutrition dialed in to start might be the hardest part. At the end of the day, you are likely trying to break habits that you have established over many years. In order to break those habits, you need a way to hold yourself accountable. Maybe that means getting the rest of your family involved or hiring a nutrition coach. Either way, it’s important to remember that there needs to be consequences for your behavior to make changes in the future. If there are no consequences for slipping up, you will find it very easy to half-ass your diet or even give up entirely.
Establishing new eating habits will be very tough. Before you try to make a diet fit you, make sure you fit the diet. Don't worry about what’s trendy or what your best friend just did to lose 20lbs, find what works for you! This might take some trial and error but will ultimately lead you to success in both the short and long term.
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