Video: The Best Diet for Weight Loss
I did it! I said it, I called it a “diet!” One of the most controversial words in the weight loss language. I’m sure you’re more than familiar with the concept that all successful weight loss stems from the statement “It’s NOT a diet, it’s a Lifestyle” and the zillions of experts who say “diets DON’T work!” I’m not exactly sure those folks are right…
Now, before you assume I’m a punitive quack, let me explain the reasons behind my madness. Trust me, it’s not as scary as you might think and it might actually help ease the weight loss process for you and help you get all the way to the golden arches of that healthy lifestyle we all so eagerly await.
What is a diet?
There are like six simple definitions of the word diet and it essentially boils down to a group of foods being eaten by a certain group of people. So at the end of the day, we all follow a diet, it’s just that some are inherently healthier than others. No matter how hard you try, you’re always going to need to eat, meaning you’ll always be following a diet. It’s just which diet you choose to follow that matters.
Why “diets” don’t work.
The conception that diets don’t work or the fact that the mere mention of the term “dieting” sends us into mild state of depression stems from an overly restrictive, unsustainable, unsatisfying and often simply unhealthy set of parameters that certain diets dictate.
People do some crazy things to see the scale drop and drop it will. But when a restrictive diet fails to teach you anything new, you’re left with no new skills and no ability to keep the weight off. You go back to your previous lifestyle that got you in trouble in the first place and you’re no better off than you were (potentially worse off depending on how bad the diet was).
The best diet for weight loss.
At the end of the day, to lose weight, you still have to create a caloric deficit and you need to learn to do something different than you have been doing if you have been maintaining the same weight and/or even gaining for some time. It will also involve a little bit of restriction. It’s true that you can “have your cake and be skinny too,” but you just can’t have ALL the cake 😉
All that said, here are the three components of the best diet for weight loss:
- Is rooted in fundaments of something you like and see yourself doing for a long time. Yet, you know it’s not forever, so it can be easier to follow to get the results you want.
- Allows you to feel satisfied, nourishes your body with balanced nutrition and still creates a caloric deficit so you can lose weight.
- Teaches you something new so you can maintain your weight loss.
What is a lifestyle?
Here’s the best part! When you pick a “diet” for weight loss that has the three components above, you will seamlessly transition into this new “healthy lifestyle” that is like an upgraded version of your weight loss diet. You can still follow the core principles of your weight loss diet, but you get to sprinkle in more indulgences because creating a caloric deficit is no longer important. And maintaining your weight is easy because you’re not eating more food than your body needs. The lifestyle is the way you ultimately live life. Your “diet” teaches you how to make it healthier.
In summary:
The best weight loss diet is one that rooted in balanced nutrition but does involved some restriction. But you don’t have to do it forever. When you pick a diet that is healthy at the core, it’s like a “bootcamp” for what the rest of your life will look like. But rest assure that once the weight is gone, you’ll get to loosen the reins a little bit and let loose a little more often.
When and if weight starts to creep back on, then you go back on your “diet” for a bit until you’re back in the body you love. It’s not an all-or-nothing approach, it’s just a small shift of gears until you get back on track.
The best lifestyle for ultimate health and happiness?
This post is essentially the root of how and why I created the Clean & Colorful Solution and why we opened the Clean & Colorful Kitchen in San Diego. The fundaments, which I call the 4 Universal Diet Truths, are things anybody can do forever. You will feel better when you do these things and they support a healthy body:
- Eat more whole food.
- Eat all 5 colors every day.
- Drink a raw juice or smoothie.
- Exercise 21+ minutes per day.
That’s the lifestyle, but learning to do it requires some education and that’s why I have a 28-day meal plan, recipe guide, workout plan, grocery guide and more. After the 28-days, you’re locked and loaded with so many new skills to incorporate into your lifestyle, you’ll have a hard time picking the ones you want to stick!
How does “detoxing” fit in?
I could write an entirely separate post on detoxing in 2017…the good, bad, dangerous and glorious. Bottom line: not all detoxes are created equal. Some are as bad as the most notorious of “diets” from the 80s and some are an awesome way to boost your body with high quality micro and macro nutrition that can leave you feeling amazing.
Of course our Clean & Colorful 3-Day Detox Kits (select detox at the top menu to see variations) are awesome and we created them with the same philosophy as the full 28-Day Program. It’s restrictive in that you’re boosting your body with only high quality plant power, but nourishing enough as it contains juices, smoothies and soups so you’re packed full of fiber, protein and healthy fat. When you’re done, you’re left with an arsenal of recipes and good habits you can use in your forever-healthy-lifestyle.
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