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The Diet vs Health Part 1 debate is real! For many people, they think both words are equally interchangeable, which is sad. It’s sad because people don’t seem to understand what they should do or worse, know but want a quick fix (like a junky). Unfortunately, we live in a society that focuses on Diets instead of Health.

Diet vs Health Part 1

First off, lets set the record straight and define both of these words. That way we will all be on the same page, so to speak.

Diet

Merriam-Webster defines Diet as “a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one’s weight”. First off, I agree with this definition. As we age, we do need to eat some things sparingly because our metabolism slows. That doesn’t mean omit (unless that is something you WANT to do), it means limit. So you can still eat carbs, desserts, etc. It’s about choosing to eat a balanced meal.

The problem is that society has morphed the definition of “Diet” into something that is unhealthy and almost impossible to sustain long term. I have lost 25 pounds in the past. I am here to tell you the “Diet” that I was on worked, BUT, it was impossible to sustain so once I went off of it, I gained all the weight back. Sound familiar. It was so restrictive that it just wasn’t possible to keep up with and live my life.

On top of it being rather restrictive, it was super pricey! Yes, I could afford it, but it made it not accessible to everyone. It was something that started to weigh on me (no pun intended, lol). I am talking about an additional $400 per month added to my grocery bill. That is A LOT!!

Health

Merriam-Webster defines “Health” as “the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit” AND “a condition in which someone or something is thriving or doing well.” I know, I chose two of the options but I feel that together these two definitions define Health the best.

Health isn’t just the body, it truly encompasses the body, mind, and spirit. All three need to be in sync for one to be truly healthy. Every health coach I have spoken to or article on weight loss that I have read said that getting physically fit/losing weight is only 20% body (working out) and 80% eating (mind, because what we feel like eating we eat). I agree with this because in the past I have changed my physical activity but not my eating habits and although I did have better endurance, my physique didn’t change.

Current Focus

It’s the time of year to declare New Year Resolutions and one of the most popular is dieting. I know that I have declared it in the past (and of course didn’t stick to it). I have learned over the years that “dieting” is just not me. It makes me uber weird about food. Like I think about food all the time and what I “can’t” have, etc. I don’t think like that when I am not dieting and I don’t crave junk when I am not dieting, and not because I am indulging, but because I know I can have it if I choose to.

My focus now is Health, duh. It really should be everyone’s focus. I truly believe we can heal a lot of what ails us with food, eating the proper food that is. Do I want to lose weight? Yes, yes I do. I am 5’6″ with a small bone frame and currently weigh over 160 pounds (yikes, I said this out loud). When I carry extra weight, like I am now, I get heartburn, have trouble sleeping, feel sluggish and do not like how my clothes hang on my body.

Now it isn’t all about the number on the scale for me. I truly don’t care what the number reads, I care about my symptoms so if all of my issues went away and I still weighed over 160, then I would be fine, truly. I have many friends who weigh more than me and who are in better physical shape than I am. They may not look like it in society’s eyes, but they are. They can run farther, lift more, teach cardio classes, etc. Health Is Not A Number!!!!

Diet vs Health Part 1

So are you with me on the Diet vs Health debate? Are you ready to read more? See below on what is in Diet vs Health Part 2.

What’s in Diet vs Health Part 2?

In Diet vs Health Part 2, I talk about how I approaching living my best life by getting healthy through eating based on Epicure’s Good Food Real Results and moving more by attending Orange Theory classes. I also discuss how you can get healthy too (if you want/need to) along with nixing the diet culture.

Check out what is in Epicure’s Epic Life Collection (their Good Food Real Results program). This is NOT a diet!! I eat REAL food that just happens to be gluten-free and taste Fantastic!!!!