Imagine someone in your life. Now imagine that you’re going to wear their clothes for a day. Chances are, that day isn’t going to be comfortable. Whether it be a significant other, elder, child, or friend, their clothes likely won’t fit you very well, if at all. Just as with clothing, the same diet isn’t suited to fit everyone perfectly either. We are all different inside and out. The way our bodies function and the preferences that they have vary with genetics, gender, age, body composition, physical activity level, and health status.
Do’s and Don’ts for Dieting
With this in mind, consider all of the popular media diets that we are exposed to every day. They don’t consider any of the aforementioned factors that make each of us unique. Rather, they generally provide restrictive guidelines and recommend them to everyone with the promise of great weight loss or stellar energy levels. With all the promising results these types of diets claim to provide, it may be tempting to hop on the bandwagon. However, following these diets for weight loss and overall health is serving as the “don’t” for choosing the right diet for you.
However, this is not to say that all of these diets are wrong—they just aren’t made as “one-size-fits-all.” If you love eating Paleo and it makes you feel good, go ahead and follow that type of diet. If eating Paleo makes you feel restricted and unhappy, don’t follow that type of diet. It’s as simple as that. The only rule that suits everyone is making healthy choices as often as possible. Following a guide such as MyPlate may help you stay conscious about what types of foods to fill your plate with. Incorporate daily servings of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein—fiber will come along with the fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Enjoy sugar, saturated fat, and alcohol in moderation. If certain foods make you feel less than optimal, avoid those foods—even if they’re considered healthy. The best diet is the one that you’re able to stick to and gives you results. The key takeaway: do what works for you!
If you find yourself left with questions or uncertainty, reach out to a dietitian and work together to customize a diet that will provide results and makes you feel your best. After all, that’s what we’re here for!
Schedule a Nutrition ConsultationWritten by Whitney Ament, Nutrition Intern at Elite Sports Clubs