adminObesity has become the new normal in much of the world, particularly in the United States. Our busy lifestyles combined with the convenience of fast food and prepackaged items has made eating unhealthy much easier. Why spend hours making food at home, washing dishes, and cleaning up the kitchen when you can just grab something deep-fried and delicious on the go?
Diet vs Dieting
In many cases, dieting refers to a temporary period of some type of deprivation in order to lose weight quickly. This may lead to irritability and insufficient intake of essential vitamins, then eventually to a point where it is no longer sustainable. This doesn’t mean that all diets are unhealthy or unsustainable. Make sure you are getting enough of the things your body needs and talk to a doctor about whether it is a good fit for you.
Eating a healthy diet on a regular basis, on the other hand, is absolutely healthy! One popular rule of thumb is the 80/20 rule. If you can eat healthy 80 percent of the time, you should be able to enjoy your favorite treats once in a while as well and without packing on the pounds.
Pros of Dieting
Sometimes it is necessary to go on a diet for a temporary period of time in order to get healthier. Your doctor may recommend something short term and then suggest ways to transition into regular healthy eating. Some of the pros of dieting include:
- Fast or faster weight loss.
- Learning to be intentional about what you eat and how much you should consume.
- Being intentional becomes a habit, making it easier to eat healthy long-term.
- Researching diets can help you learn more about being healthy.
Cons of Dieting
Just as dieting may help you gain control over what you eat, it can become easy to lose control as well. Be wary of diets that only include only a handful (or less) of different foods and drinks. You can’t get everything you need from vitamins and supplements. Take a look at the cons of dieting:
- Deprivation can lead to starvation, malnutrition, or binge eating.
- Not getting enough calories can make you dizzy, tired, irritable, depressed, and cause headaches.
- Unsustainable diets can make you feel irritable or depressed when you don’t see the results you want.
- Hunger makes us angry, hence the term “hangry.”
Dieting may be difficult, but take pride in the fact that you are taking steps to become a healthier you. As you learn what your body needs and doesn’t need, you will know what you need to do to be the happiest versions you can be.
