Remember the cabbage soup diet? This was a fad diet that claimed dieters could lose around 10 pounds in a week by eating mostly fat-free cabbage soup. This and other fad diets usually promise quick weight loss results by following strict rules about what to eat and what to avoid. They become wildly popular for a short time, then seem to disappear.
While eating more cabbage certainly isn’t a bad idea, this and other fad diets generally fail in the long term. “Finish” the diet after 7 days, and you’re back to Square One, ten pounds heavier. Why is that? Why do these diets so often fail to deliver long-term results?
Fad diets don’t help people see the big picture of health.
Many people start diets with the desire to lose weight, but they haven’t thoroughly examined why they want to lose weight. Being healthy and feeling good every day means more than a number on a scale or a reflection in a mirror. Does it mean being able to play with your kids again? Does it mean decreasing your risk of disease? Does it mean greater self-confidence? Getting to the root of these desires may help you recognize that weight loss isn’t really what you want–it’s something else.
Fad diets encourage an unhealthy attitude about food.
They claim certain foods will make you gain weight, while others will help you lose weight. This can produce a fearful reaction to eating certain foods considered “bad” on the diet, or even worse, produce feelings of extreme guilt when you do indulge.
Our approach at Secret Ingredient is simpler and more holistic. We shy away from the word diet. We prefer the term lifestyle change. A diet implies you only need a quick fix, a 7-day miracle to be healthy and happy forever. Instead, we advocate eating whole, unprocessed foods and getting moderate exercise on a regular basis.
We also believe that what’s “healthy” for one person may not be healthy for the next. Not everyone can eat the same foods and feel the same way. Dairy, for instance, causes digestive upset for some people and not others. It’s all about finding what works for you and your unique body chemistry.
A healthy attitude about food is less about fear and more about enjoyment.
Savoring the occasional treat and getting back to the basics like roasted chicken are surefire ways to let go of diet dogma and start enjoying your meals again. Life isn’t about dieting and depriving yourself; it’s about eating nourishing, wholesome food and sharing it with others.
Secret Ingredient encourages healthy eating beyond any kind of fad diet with our personal chef services in the Philadelphia area. All of our meals are cooked from scratch and include unprocessed foods. Find out more about our personal chef services or contact us to set up a meal plan.
Making home-cooked meals part of your lifestyle change is essential to good health in the long term. Let us help by setting you up for success!
