Why I Break "Diet" Rules
I was talking with a good friend that is in a masterclass with me for Christian women growing their businesses. We were discussing some recommendations that our instructor had given us. I told her that I was breaking some of the “rules”. My business was set up a little differently and I found that breaking these “rules” actually helped my business.
She was relieved. In her mind, she had to follow these rules to have a successful business. If she didn’t follow the “formula” then she wouldn’t succeed.
This is what I find with a lot of my clients. They have been taught that weight loss is a very specific formula. If you don’t follow a RIGHT formula (a.k.a. diet), you won’t lose weight much less keep it off.
Not true my friends.
God created each of us as an INDIVIDUAL. No two are the same.
That means each of my clients needs to find the “formula” that FITS THEM and WHO GOD MADE THEM TO BE.
This requires some trial and error at times, but in the end, my clients find a LIFESTYLE, a way of living and eating, that they can maintain. That results in maintaining weight loss.
So, my friends, I am going to give you a quick list of diet “rules” that I break because they work for me and my life. I give you these so that you don’t feel like you HAVE TO do anything.
I’m not going to give much explanation to any of these rules, as I have written longer posts explaining the science behind and why I break these rules. I’ll link to each of those posts.
My prayer is that you’ll feel relieved. Relieved that you don’t have to follow every worldly rule and instead listen to how God is leading you to care for your temple.
You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. Psalm 119:73
BROKEN RULE #1: NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST
Breakfast is optional my friends and I skip it just about every day.
Instead, I choose intermittent fasting.
What is the number one thing you should eat if you want to lose weight?
YOUR OWN BODY FAT! The only way to “dine-in” on your own fat is to not be ingesting food.
Fasting is really good for weight loss and even your mental health! You can find all the details about how and why I fast HERE.
BROKEN RULE #2: EAT EVERY 2-3 HOURS TO KEEP YOUR METABOLISM GOING
I believed this one for a long time. I really thought it would help me fight off hunger and eat less if I kept my meals/snacks small and healthy.
IT DOESN’T! Research shows that most people that follow this advice actually eat more, often because individuals will eat a small meal, not a “snack” and still eat their larger meals.
Our bodies are AMAZING! God made it so that we can forgo a meal or even a couple and still be COMPLETELY FINE.
HERE is the post explaining the science and why it is actually better for our bodies to eat fewer meals.
BROKEN RULE #3: Eat when you’re hungry.
Let me explain simply. We have two different types of hunger: Physical and emotional. Neither of them actually means you NEED fuel now.
If you are consistently eating when you have any sensation of huger, you are giving your body more fuel than it needs. What do our bodies do with extra fuel? It stores it as fat.
Hunger is not an emergency (unless you are emaciated, but if you are reading this, you are not emaciated). It is a suggestion from your body that it would like an immediate source of energy instead of using fat to fuel it.
While we do NEED to eat while we are losing weight, we actually need to eat very little (if you are eating high-quality foods).
Do you want to know the difference between emotional and physical hunger? Check out this post HERE.
BROKEN RULE #4: EAT EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.
Seems logical right? Paul does write, “Everything is permissible for me” in 1 Corinthians 6:12a. We can eat anything we want, right? As long as we don’t go overboard, right?
I agree that nothing should be off-limits. When we FEEL restricted, we tend to rebel. But “moderation” may still be too much.
“‘Everything is permissible for me’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’ – but I will not be mastered by anything… Therefore, Honor God with your body” 1 Corinthians 6:12, 20b
As Paul writes, yes, we can have everything. But not everything is beneficial. Sometimes when we say we eat in moderation it is our excuse to have it.
The problem is, many of us have become mastered by cravings for sugar, bread, or fried foods. That is when we need to stop and re-evaluate. Sometimes, we need self-control to limit these foods below “moderate” levels.
If you want to know more about this, you can find it HERE.
BROKEN RULE #5: LOSING WEIGHT IS ALL ABOUT DIET AND EXERCISE, MOSTLY DIET THOUGH
Weight loss has more to do with your mind than it does with diet and exercise. You can have the best food to eat and the most efficient workout routine, but if you don’t eat the food or do the workout, it doesn’t matter.
Yes, I eat relatively well. Yes, I move my body. But those are not what I focus on to maintain a healthy weight.
If you want to understand this better, check out this blog post.
BROKEN RULE #6: Let yourself have cheat days or cheat meals
I am only “cheating” myself when I do this. What an awful thing to do to me?
I also don’t “treat” myself. I am not a dog. I don’t need treats.
Instead, I plan meals that are sometimes not that healthy and I plan desserts that my body may not need.
Why?
Because I now have control over my food when I do this. I make an INTENTIONAL decision that I will eat these foods (for a variety of different reasons) instead of an unconscious one that leads me to go overboard.
HERE is the blog post to check out as to why I do this.
As you can see, I do things a little differently. Since I don’t ascribe to all the “worldly” rules, I easily maintain a healthy mind, body, and soul because it fits ME, who God created ME to be.
Is that what you’re after too?
If so, I can help.
I have assisted many women to determine which “rules” to break and which ones to follow. They’ve lost weight and maintained it. If you want that too, sign up for a Discovery Call by clicking HERE.
