Atlanta Dietitian

di·et ¹

^{If you Google the word “diet”, you will find “about 220 million” results.  I find this intriguing and a little bit (ok,  a lot) crazy!  There are 220 million web results for the word diet, yet over 60% of American adults are overweight.  Doesn’t this seem ironic?}

^{Go a step further and google the definition of “diet.”  You will find several different definitions, but two that come up most consistently are:}

     ^{1.  the usual food and drink of a person or animal}

     ^{2.  a plan restricting calories for weight loss}

^{When you think about it, these two definitions are completely opposite.  Most often when people start a plan to lose weight, they completely alter (i.e. restrict and eliminate) their “usual” food and drink.  This is the very reason that RESTRICTION DIETS DO NOT WORK.} 

^{Imagine walking into my office (the dreaded dietitian!!!!) and telling me your favorite food, only to have me say, “you can’t eat that—EVER!”  Really think about it—your VERY favorite food.  I guarantee you are going to want that food as soon as our visit is over.  You may be “good” and avoid it for a couple days….maybe even weeks, but I guarantee eventually you will give in and when you do, you won’t just have a little bit!  Then comes the negative-thinking downward spiral……..You tell youself that you are very “bad” and that you have no will power.  You think you will never succeed and that everything is ruined, so you quit your so-called “diet.”}

^{One of the first things that I tell my clients is that no food is “off limits.”  With that being said, there are definitely foods that should be eaten in small quantities.  But, we all know human nature is to want what we can’t have, so do not put anything completely off limits.} 

^{Restriction diets always focus on what you can’t have.  Instead, focus on what you CAN have.  This simple switch in thinking –from negative to positive– has been the key to success for many people trying to lose weight.}