Posted on October 17, 2013 by Stephan Wiedner
Meet Jon.*
Jon’s a 34 year old consultant. He is slim and trim. He works out religiously four times a week, doing a mix of weight training and cardio. His cupboards and fridge include only the best nutrient-rich, organic, naturally grown foods: nuts, veggies, grain fed beef, etc… And he never sneaks a treat from his extensive “do not eat” list of sinful foods. Every winter he spends three months skiing on his favourite slopes with his die-hard skiing buddies.
His regimented and systematic approach to eating works for him but comes at a cost.
Meet Nancy.*
Nancy is in her late 30s. She’s a little overweight (maybe 20 pounds), eats pretty well most of the time but has a sweet tooth. She likes to sip on a can of Coke in the afternoon and has no qualms about seconds for dessert, especially during the holidays. She’s active but not in a spandex-wearing, Lululemon way. She lives close to town, loves getting out of the house, so she and ends up walking at least 30 minutes every day.
Her indulging and care-free way works for her but comes at a cost.
Fast forward 30 years
One day, while working out, Jim feels tingling in his arms and hands. He visits the doctor and within 48 hours is on the operating table for double bypass surgery. Jim is lucky to be alive.
Nancy, on the other hand, has been to the doctor’s recently for a regular check-up and has a less acute issue. She is teetering on the edge of having late onset diabetes and in lieu of taking meds for the rest of her life, needs to adjust her eating habits. No more Coke. No more sweets.
*These are real stories based on real people. I’ve changed their names to protect their identities.
Do you know people like Jon and Nancy? Which one are you?
Do all people like Jon and Nancy face similar fates or are they anomalies?
Is one approach to eating better than the other?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I am definitely more of a Nancy, and know a lot of Jons!
I’d rather stick to a rigid diet. Personally I’ve been 2 or 3 sizes bigger and I know how good it is to feel healthy. Also – cutting out certain foods and making eating fun by being creative with your diet is still enjoyable. It’s my current lifestyle. – Scott
Eating delicious healthy food is fun and it is a way to honor my body with self love.
I’m in the middle. Strict diets don’t work. Healthy eating most of the time with a few splurges works well. It’s slower to drop weight, but easier to keep it off!
@iris – i am right there, as well. try to eat healthy, yummy food 80% of the time and then diabolical splurging on treats 20% of the time.
From a personal perspective, I posit that eating whatever guilt free is not conducive to a healthy mind-set, body, soul or spirit.
Think I’d rather have the rigid plan to help me to lose the extra.
In June a friend issued me a 21 Day Vegan Challenge and I completed it. I transitioned to a non-fanatical vegetarian diet. This means I’ll eat meat on occasion. If I’m at a party, and meat is the main course, I’ll eat it as long as it’s a small portion. Since June I’lost about 25 lbs and feel great. My advantage was I’ve been curtailing meat from my diet for the last 2 years. When I do eat meat, it’s very small portions.
I like Paul McKenna’s formula for eating.
1 – Eat when you’re hungry.
2 – Eat what you want.
3 – Taste every bite.
4 – When you’re full, stop eating.
I love to eat, so I choose to eat what I want but control the portions and make sure that the majority of my diet is full of good, healthy food. When I work with a Client on this, we always do perspective work and talk about what kind of choices they want to make while embracing a healthy lifestyle. If the come to me to create a healthy lifestyle, then the question is how do they do that and remain true to what they value?
@Steve Borek – What if in step 2 you just want to eat sugary treats all the time? And step 4 seems like one of those easier-said-than-done things. I usually eat until I’m full but then I inevitably finish off my kids’ plates. Come to think of it, I am starting to put less on my plate knowing that I’ll likely be finishing their plates. Can’t see food go to waste.
Deprivation never works. Those rules work for me.
If I want to go to Cold Stone Creamery and get a Love It size ice cream, I do.
In fact, I’m out the door. ;-p
If it’s cravings you’re having a problem with, I can help you with that.
I just did an NLP technique on myself that got rid of the ice cream craving.
No, cravings don’t really rule my world. I think it’s because I generally eat really healthy foods – lots of fresh fruit and veg. When I was in university living a block from McDonalds, I swear I was addicted. The cravings took over. Big time.
Well I actually balance both I do not call eating healthy “dieting” because it makes it seems like I have limits. What I have noticed is when I do take a guilt free day after eating “healthy” I find myself not really wanting to go all out and eat whatever I want that is fatty, greasy, and filled with sodium. From my experience I believe doing that keeps me on the right track health wise.
I truly look for balance. I like being healthy but I enjoy food. So I eat in moderation. If it is something I like , I eat in small portions.
There’s a third way…eliminate wheat and all GMO corn and soy ingredients from your diet. You can still eat surprising well and also lose weight. I lost 20 pounds in four months after this change of diet and no longer have any digestive distress that plagued me previously. Check it out the “Wheat Belly” book and then read up on the extensive use of GMO food ingredients in processed foods and their digestive symptoms like inflammation, bloating and weight gain…
The hardest part of staying fit is eating clean, however it has the greatest result short-mid & long term. If I knew I was dying, I might consider eating anything. I enjoy LIVING and eating right (And rigid I am about it), supports me in living the life I choose to live. Great Q~