In light of my using that most to-be-avoided of all terms in my previous post (that’s “diet”, for the folks playing at home), I thought I’d explain my attitude towards the word diet.
I never consciously say that I am on a diet. I used to, but when you’ve been on a diet for at least the last fourteen years, the term stops being so poignant. I’m on a diet of overeating and good intentions. I’m trying to change that - constantly. People say to use the term “lifestyle change”… and yeh, that’s a good term and all, but when you’re trying to lose weight, it is a diet. Say you count calories - you won’t be eating 1500 calories forever. When you’re maintaining, you might be allowed 2000, or even more. That’s the lifestyle change - learning the healthy habits that will allow you to maintain your smaller weight. Whilst I’m eating fewer calories in order to use weight, I’m not opposed to the use of the term diet.
It’s when diet becomes associated with shakes and premade meals, that the word becomes problematic. Because diet is part of the holy trinity of losing weight - along with exercise and education - and any two without the other is pretty useless.
For me diet = healthy eating/living/exercise… so i totally agree.