SUSTAINABLE VS. FAD DIETS

[Kate]

The word is triggering, or it can be, am I right? The word diet is defined as the foods that humans habitually eat. When you put it that way, not as triggering.

We enter the murky waters when we confuse FAD diets with what’s sustainable. FAD’s are defined as an intensely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object’s qualities. Keywords – short-term, and without basis.

Sometimes, you don’t know what’s a fad vs. sustainable until you give it a go. Usually, the narrative results in feelings of defeat, frustration, and discouragement, but what if we just flipped the script and said, “Actually, it’s just not for me” instead. Feels so much better.

So how can you tell what’s a fad and what’s not? Here are some concepts to look for and food for thought – if you can check these boxes, the protocol you’re considering may be a great fit. If not…I’d take a hard pass.

Integration: The tentpoles of the methodology or program should seamlessly integrate into your established life. If you can’t live without a bowl of oats in the morning, is keto for you? No. It’s not. If breakfast is your favorite meal of the day, but you love a quality family dinner is intermittent fasting for you? No. There is no ONE right way to execute a goal so why back yourself into a corner?

Self-Monitoring: I say this all the time, self-monitoring is the unsung hero of goal achievement. You don’t need to step on a scale, measure inches, or count calories necessarily, but you do need metrics to pay attention to, both qualitative and quantitative. There is a lecture dedicated to self-monitoring in FOUNDATION, and I outline the different type of self-monitoring metrics in the community lecture THE LIFECYCLE OF A DIET.

Flexibility: Life happens – always. It’s the one sure thing. If a protocol handcuffs you to a plan, and you can’t survive without that plan, what are you left with? Not that much. When you hold the power, and autonomy over your own process it automatically becomes more enjoyable.

Human Connection: We crave it. We need it. If your protocol feels isolating, that is not good. My entire vision for The Four Percent was to provide a corner of the internet for like-minded people to empower themselves – and each other. Lecture 10 of Foundation tells you how to maintain this flexibility – for the rest of your life.

How does this land with you? If it resonates, save it, print it out, or copy and paste it so you have it for easy reference when you’re curious about purchasing something. Checks and balances are a good thing to have.

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