Years ago, I was a staunch vegetarian, and I tried every way of eating a plant-based diet known to man. Well, I am exaggerating, but I want you to understand that I have tried it all. Here’ s the deal, I do not promote any ‘one’ diet, and here are the reasons why.
Eating Psychology Coaching Training
In the fall of 2014, I enrolled in the Institute for the Psychology of Eating (IPE) to obtain an Eating Psychology Coaching Certification. It was during this time when I got answers to my nutrition questions.
I had a life-changing experience and tremendous growth while working on my coaching certification.
As a result of what I learned, I made a pact with myself to not be a diet pusher. Instead, my goal as a coach is to help my client learn how the psychology of eating and mind-body nutrition impacts their overall health and well-being.
Sidenote: I tried the ketogenic diet, and after that I experience, I decided to stop experimenting.
Here’s why I do not promote any ‘one’ diet
1. I am not a nutritionist or a dietician, so it is out of my scope to recommend specific diets anyway. I’m not catching a case for anyone.
2. Each person is different and what works for one person doesn’t always work for the next person. Just because I eat a certain way does not mean that I can recommend it to all of my clients.
I meet clients where they are and work with them on learning how vital it is to have macronutrient balance along with other approaches I learned in my training.
3. Lifestyle and food quality are a top priority. Most people don’t know what it takes to make lifestyle changes. Some think it is only about the food, although eating high-quality food is essential, there is so much more to it.
What you think, believe, and how you feel affects your health and well-being too, which I consider a part of your lifestyle, your rituals, the things you do to keep your mind, body, spirit, and soul healthy.
4. Most diets promoted by the industry are fad diets. How long do you honestly think you can restrict the foods you love? Probably until you lose the weight, but once you start lifting the tight restrictions, you’ll notice weight increase.
Balance is essential, and when you have balance, you do not have to worry about putting yourself through unnecessary changes.
5. Understanding how to listen to your body is my goal. My goal is to help my clients learn to pay attention and be in tune with their body. If a client notices that a particular food upsets their system, then they can take steps to correct and adjust.
We are not taught to pay attention to the signs the body sends, because we are caught up in living life. Therefore, we think what we feel in our bodies is normal, but it is the body saying, “Hey, I don’t like that food, I can’t take it anymore, or I’m slowing you down because you need rest.”
6. The whole person needs attention. It is not enough to eat healthily; focus on the whole you. There is not a diet on earth that can do all that for you.
Sure, you get the nutrients your body needs from high-quality foods, but what about the other parts of you.
Often we are so caught up with what to eat and what not to eat, that we forget about the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of who we are. Those areas need to be healthy too.
Final Words
Now you know some of the reasons why I do not promote any ‘one’ diet. It is about becoming a healthier you, mind, body, spirit and soul.
If we can get to a point where we don’t stress ourselves out with food, then we will have long-term success in the world of eating.
As we grow and evolve, our diets do too. We have to be open with food because it transforms us into who we are now and will become.
It is about balance with food and doing what works for you in any given situation that life throws at you.
Take care.
