Last Updated on May 21, 2023 by Michael Brockbank
Perhaps one of the most important elements of any diet plan is the learning process. Sure, there are some diet fads you can jump onto right now and drop the weight. But can you keep it off? Losing weight is as much of a lifestyle change as anything.
Because if you don’t learn what caused you to gain weight in the first place, you’re probably going to balloon back up once the diet is complete.
In fact, this is why a lot of people will start to gain weight almost immediately after ending a diet.
Can Your Diet Change Your Lifestyle?
This is perhaps one of the biggest reasons why I have no interest in things like fasting, keto, or low-carb diet plans. I don’t want to continue doing these things after I drop the pounds.
I like cake, ice cream, and pasta.
Truly think about it; if you’re doing fasting diets, is it something you plan on doing 10 years down the road? Especially given that we don’t really have a lot of scientific evidence for the long-term effects of fasting.
Of course, the same can be said with just about any diet plan.
Don’t get me wrong, I know there are a lot of people who do wind up making a change to their lifestyle in terms of eating. That’s because they learned during the diet process and don’t want to revert back to where they were.
And that’s really the primary point of most diets. Well, at least the ones that aren’t centered around maximizing profits and getting you to buy junk you really don’t need.
In my case, it was understanding that I can’t sit on my ass all day in front of my computer while pounding down cupcake after cupcake.
In fact, because of the nature of my job and free time, I need to be more self-conscious about getting some physical activity every day. Otherwise, I’ll easily add the weight back.
Those who lead extremely sedentary lifestyles are easily at risk of becoming obese in a very short amount of time.
Picking the Right Diet Plan for the Long Term
This is one of the biggest reasons why I suggest exploring various diet plans. The best diet plan for you is the one that works best for what you want.
I know that sounds a bit like a copout, but it’s true.
There are people who swear up and down about Keto being the best thing. Others are all about fasting. Some people out there will still maintain the Atkins Diet or Weight Watchers plans.
Whatever works best for you in the long term depends on your own needs and wants.
Because I do like some of the sweeter and carb-rich foods, my Net 600 diet is more about staying active to burn what I eat. But that’s what works best for me, which requires little change in my lifestyle today.
Well, outside of reducing the amount of junk I eat in the first place.
My point is that you want a diet plan that goes beyond just helping you reach weight-loss goals. You want something that is going to fit your lifestyle for the next few decades.
Sure, they’ll be some things that you won’t be able to eat as you get older. And you want to make sure you’re able to sustain certain diet plans with your current health requirements.
But the diet plan you’ll want is the one that you can maintain long after you lost weight.
Is it Worth the Lifestyle Change to Remain Healthy and Fit?
Perhaps the biggest question you need to ask yourself is whether your new eating habits are worth keeping for the long term. If you’re not prepared to make changes in how you view food or exercise, the chances of you gaining that weight back are exceptionally high.
This is one of the biggest reasons why I prefer my own diet plan. There are a lot of things I quite enjoy and can still eat. My particular issue was the fact that I ate way too much of those things.
Especially given how inactive and sedentary I’ve been in the past.
This is the whole point of a weight-loss journey. It’s not just about dropping the pounds for that “sexy summer” bod. It’s not about poses you can do for Instagram for likes and follows.
A weight-loss journey is the process of learning and understanding yourself and what you need to do to sustain the physique you want.
In my case, I’m able to enjoy all of those goodies I had in the past while still losing more than 80 pounds. This was because I put everything into perspective by monitoring portion sizes and getting more physically active.
I know I can’t go back to the way I was while weighing 300 pounds without putting in the effort to do so. I simply cannot handle the food intake…and yes, I’ve tried.
But I’m OK with this because I can do so much more today than I was ever able to do throughout my entire adult life. Not to mention reducing the amount of food I eat also saves money on my grocery budget.
Right now, I’m in the best physical shape I’ve experienced, which is saying a lot.
I guess my point is that you need to find a path that is worth changing your lifestyle if you truly want better health and a longer lifespan.
What Lifestyle Change Have You Made for Eating Habits?
Personally, I don’t believe you have to give up anything as long as you keep it within reason. Nonetheless, everyone is different with a unique take on how they want to lose weight.
My biggest changes were greatly reducing my intake while increasing my activity. That’s it.
What kind of lifestyle change have you made for your weight-loss journey?
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