Since my post on a psychological approach to dieting, I have been asked a few questions from readers and friends concerning this method and the idea of dieting in general. I will address some of these questions and also provide an update on the status of my diet overhaul.Here are some Frequently Asked Questions and Comments concerning the Seemingly Useless Diet:
Why are you dieting, you exercise daily and you are not overweight? My diet is a PERMANENT complete overhaul of my eating habits and not a "diet" in the conventional temporary sense of the word. I may be healthy now but I feel that it is better to preempt future hospital visits by willingly changing your diet rather than being forced to change your diet by a doctor or an unfortunate event. There are no do-overs or reset buttons when it comes to your health and the food you eat now may affect you more than you think in the future. Also, humans are creatures of habit, better to change now than to change in my later years - "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Why are you torturing yourself and denying yourself tasty foods that you enjoy? That is the beauty of the Seemingly Useless Diet, you are not trying to resist the temptation of eating foods you enjoy but rather changing the way your mind categorizes the foods. You want to put unhealthy foods (junk food, soda, fried foods, etc.) in your subconscious "disgusting" category and place healthy foods (almonds, fish, fruits, vegetables, etc.) in your subconscious "delicious" category. Changing your subconscious definitions is what is needed for a dieting overhaul to be permanent. This is the reason why most fad or crash diets, which emphasize resisting temptation to foods you enjoy and eating foods you don't enjoy, can not be sustained. Motivation, self control and will power can only go so far. If you have the mindset of denying yourself delicious foods rather than changing your definition of delicious foods, you will eventually succumb to your cravings. Our definitions for delicious foods have been subconsciously nurtured from decades of media advertising and portrayals of fast food restaurants, snack foods and high in sugar beverages as being foods that everyone loves. What kid doesn't want to be refreshed by a nice cold soda or eating at a fast food restaurant that not only gives you a free toy with your meal but also has an indoor playground? When was the last time you saw a commercial on celery, flax seeds or almonds? Just as our subconscious was brainwashed to like unhealthy foods, it can similarly be brainwashed to enjoy healthy foods. So to answer the question, I am not denying myself tasty foods but rather changing my definitions of tasty and disgusting foods. I actually find the foods that I eat now to be delicious even if the general population disagrees.
I would rather die than give up healthy foods! The scary thing is not dying but rather being stuck in the hospital with a catheter in my groin, tubes all over my body, living in a hospital and watching my family worry about me every time I need to have surgery for chronic diseases that could have been prevented if I only changed my diet. Poor diet is directly responsible for many diseases including Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. Women who have poor diets can experience complications during pregnancy. Your well-being affects everyone around you whether you want it to or not. Remember: "No Man is an Island" (John Donne, Meditation XVII).
Here is an update on my diet:
It has only been about 2 weeks since implementing this diet but I already feel a boost in energy levels. I have been following the plan that I outlined in the Seemingly Useless Diet with a strict adherence to not eating fried foods, pork and candy. I am also eating on average about six times a day, each meal containing some form of protein and fruit. So far, I have not had any cravings for the foods I use to love (French Fries, Oreos, Potato Chips and Pork) and I truly believe that it has been largely due to associating such foods with disgusting images that are vivid for all the senses. Finding alternatives to such foods have also eased the transition. It is still too premature to attribute this successful resistance to unhealthy foods directly to the Seemingly Useless Diet approach but for the extent of the overhaul, it has been fairly easy to stay on my diet.
Some effects so far from this diet have been:
- Higher energy that is sustained throughout the day.
- Feeling of slight hunger every couple of hours.
- No more food comas and feelings of being "stuffed".
- More bowel movements within a day.
Recommended Reading: Eating Well For Optimum Health by Andrew Weil, M.D.
2 comments:
Where are you getting your dairy from if you still have the aversion to milk? Do you still eat Ramen noodles everyday in the morning?
Although I have an aversion to milk, I do drink it. I just mix it with ovaltine or with cereal. I am also only drinking 1% low fat milk. I no longer eat ramen on a daily basis and will try to avoid it if possible.
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