A Definition of Diet

People have asked me what my definition of “diet” is. I often considered it to be what I regularly eat to support my nutrient needs. When I looked up the definition in Mosby’s Pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, it has this definition, “the customary allowance of food and drink regularly provided or consumed.” So then what does “going on a diet” mean? Well, going on a diet can be for many reasons but in this context it would be for the purpose of reducing body fat. It is possible to maintain a healthy body weight just by paying attention to what is being eaten.

Taking time to pay attention to what I’m eating has given me satisfaction with my body image without having to work too hard for it or “go on a diet.” If you’re telling yourself that you need to go on a diet be ready to go off the diet and gain back all the fat you lost. Additionally, going on a diet means you will likely become deficient in essential nutrients because of the food you are omitting. Take for instance the Atkin’s Diet with little to no carbohydrates and high protein and fat. I did this diet in 1996 and lost 20 pounds. But I was unhealthy with no energy and became deficient in essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients required for normal body functioning. I looked sickly with dark circles under my eyes and when I realized that this was not a healthy diet I told myself “no more diets” and I’ve kept the fat off ever since.

So, if you’re considering going on a diet, I offer this suggestion; modify your current diet by analyzing what you’ve eaten in a day. Try to keep a three day journal of all the food and drink you consume. It’s far easier to make changes when you can see your diet on paper. Using the Fitday Log is a great place to start.