I do not put people on "diets."
I think "diet" is a 4 letter dirty word- so I emphasize healthy meal planning as part of a healthy lifestyle rather than "dieting."
A non-diet approach to weight loss is what I encourage, because the non-diet approach is more health focused.
"Instead of measuring your success by the needle on the scale, gauge your progress by the strides you make in adopting good eating and exercise habits as well as healthyful attitudes about yourself and your body."
"Personal Nutrition" - Sara Long and Marie Boyle
unhealthy thinking:
uses appearance as measure of self worth
is socially isolated
rejects self
goes on and off extreme diets [like low carb]
rarely exercises or overdoes and quits
focuses on past mistakes and feels like a failure
obesity is used as an excuse for failure in life
focuses on the past
allows negative emotions to reduce self control
focuses on appearance
wants to improve appearance to get love/affection
- these types of thinkers may lose the most weight and become the skinniest, but at what cost to thier mental health...??? and physical health as well...???
healthy thinking:
measures self worth by how much they care for others and themselves
socially involved
accepts self
eats healthfully
exercises regularly and sensibly
views mistakes as learning experiences, recognizes nobody's perfect
does not allow obesity to interfere with thier life
focuses on the present
uses positive attitude to enhance self control
focuses on health rather than appearance
wants to be healthy to participate fully in loving relationships
adapted from
JP Foreyt & GK Goodrick "Living Without Dieting"