Sometimes a girl’s just gotta have a good rant.

First, if any of these diet strategies (“tips” or “rules”) is working for you, then far be it for me to question.

One woman’s diet rules rant is another’s bible.

But let me qualify things first. By “work for you”, I mean that the strategy does ALL of these:

1)  Keeps you trim or on the road to same
2)  Keeps you in a good, happy relationship with food
3)  Keeps you in a good, happy relationship with eating
4)  Keeps you in a good, happy relationship with your body

These are some of my personal qualifiers when it comes to a dietary plan that “works”.

Which brings me to the topic:  “diet” rules…and a bit of a rant!  Don’t worry, I’ll try to control myself!

It’s just that there are so many “rules” for weight loss and weight control out there that really do NOT get to the heart of the matter, and simply keep us in misery when it comes to items # 1-4 listed above.

I’ve got a high standard about this.  Weight loss alone is not enough.  It’s got to be part of the bigger picture, a better life, and a healthy, happy outlook when it comes to food, eating, and your body!

So, What Brought This Rant On?

An article.  In the San Francisco Chronicle.

Actually, the article turned out to be a mixed bag.  It seemed to change mid stream and went from “OK” to ‘what the?”.

Which shall I start with?  OK, the rants have it!

Here is the “diet tips” list posted near the end of the article.  with my commentary, of course

“10 dieting tips” – as stated in the article.

My responses are in blue.

Tip #1: Eat only when sitting down.

Now, I get where this is coming from.  Be a conscious eater. But really, don’t you know naturally thin people who eat in all stages of recline, standing, or sitting?  Does driving count?  After all, you ARE sitting down!  Does the caloric load of food decrease as it gets closer to the floor? Pardon the sarcasm.

Frankly, this rule never, EVER was important for me in my own success with weight loss.  Habits of noshing while locomoting on foot or standing may need to be addressed, but “hard fast” rules such as this just get my goat.

Tip #2: Plan your meals and stick to your plan.

Planning food availability is good strategy.  But why the extra  dig at the end “and STICK to it!” like we are inches from loosing our white knuckle grip on the food-control wagon?

Tip #3: Prepare your lunch ahead of time.

OK.  This is a good one.

Tip #4: Weigh yourself daily and graph the results.

Now, I’m a realist and an all-cards-on-the-table kind of girl when it comes to tracking weight as a weight management tool (See “Does Checking The Scale Help With Weight Management?”).  The graphing is to show trends over time.

But daily?  Not necessary.  Have you ever wanted a drink of water in the middle of the night but hesitated, knowing how it might effect your weight in the morning?  OK, obviously there are other issues at stake here, too.  But you know what I mean.  Let’s not overdo it.

Tip #4: Don’t use chewing gum as a way to resist food.

Another good one, I call it “medicating your hunger”. Same goes for overdoing beverages, diet sodas (guilty, a la “Diet Center”.  My Diet Center “counselor” (think sometime mid 80’s) said it was a better choice than having half an apple). 😥

Tip #5: The hungrier you are, the more slowly you should eat.

I’m not sure what to do with this one.  It would be prudent to attach strategies to this one, like plan a snack before your meal to gently address your appetite.

Tip #6: Notice every positive behavior you engage in and reward yourself.

In the article, it wasn’t clarified what “positive behavior” or even “reward” means.  I assume it meant in terms of food and eating?

Sure, recognize your progress, even the stuff that seems insignificant.  It all adds up to big change.

For example,  recently a client noted that since paying more attention to quality foods at her first meal of the day (whenever that was) she noticed a distinct shift in less desire for low-class, or low quality, food.  This is huge, because think of the implications over time!  This created huge reward it itself!  Progress recognition is good, “reward” not so clear.

Tip #7: Be on the lookout for overeating in response to positive emotions.

I used to eat with any emotion – sad, happy, excited, morose.   It can be a way of handling what may even be a positive stress.

But now I can celebrate with eats with the best of them, without spilling over to overeating and remorse.  It is more important to cultivate an engagement with your stresses, fears and emotions that to put rules of eating on it, which adds another layer.  The eating is just a symptom.  Address the roots, not the leaves.

Tip #8: Nibbling as you store leftovers? Ask family or friends to help with cleanup.

I’ll make you a deal.  You come to  my house to clean up after dinner and I’ll come to yours.  Think that’ll do it?  Puhlease!

This is right up there with putting leftovers in opaque containers, so you won’t know it’s there.  Or eating off a small plate.  Never changed MY appetite a whit.  You?

Tip #9: Eat lunch at your desk? Take time to organize your eating environment.

Another one about conscious eating.  But frankly, once I got clear on not using food to distract or to make up for stored hunger, this one rings false.  I prefer NOT having to work when eating.  But doing so doesn’t, now, make a darn bit of difference with my weight management.  I can eat while reading, between keyboard strikes, while watching a movie….

To sum up:  It feels wonderful, excellent, liberating, and all things positive to have made the changes from the inside out that supercedes so many of the rules.

Now that I got my “rant” out of the way first, stay tuned for part 2.  We can talk about some of the issues presented in the article that I thought worth strong consideration as we make our way through the labyrinth of eating and dietary behaviors.

OK, I’m dying to know, what do YOU think of these rules, which work for you?  Or not?  Talk to me in “comments”!

Stay tuned for Part 2.

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