Top 4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Diet
Set Realistic Goals and Check With Yourself About Your Weight Loss Journey
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important for losing weight and staying healthy. But extreme diets can actually make things harder in the long run. You might lose weight at first, but once you stop those strict rules, the weight can come back, which can hurt your mental health too.
A study says that extreme dietary rules are major contributors to body shame about one’s body image. I can honestly say that I’ve experienced that during my “yo-yo” dieting days; trying to look like the Instagram models, but I eventually got tired of the emotional roller coaster it sent me through.
The problem with fad diets is they don’t focus on your health. They try to make you feel like you need to have a “perfect” body to be good enough. But that’s not true. That’s why it’s really important to understand why you want to change your eating habits in the first place.
Ask yourself these four questions to help set healthy goals and make a plan to reach them.
1. What Does Healthy Mean to You?
Again, everyone has different reasons for wanting to lose weight, and your reason may indeed be a valid reason. I, for example, just didn’t feel comfortable in my heavier body, and that’s perfectly fine. But when thinking about making such a big behavior change, it’s important to really dig deep as to why you’re wanting to make the change.
As silly as it may sound, when I was younger, I used to think being skinny meant you were healthy. So, the moment I felt I was no longer skinny, I thought I was unhealthy and turned to crazy diets to try to lose weight fast. Do your research and figure out what healthy looks and feels like for your body.
2. How Realistic Are Your Goals for Your Body?
A motto I like to keep in my head when it comes to weight loss is the fact that it didn’t take me 2 weeks to gain 20 pounds, so why would I expect my body to drop the weight that fast? With weight loss, it’s a journey, and you have to give yourself some grace while on the journey.
If you feel you have to go to extreme measures to lose your weight, your diet expectations aren’t very realistic, and you’ll likely set yourself up to fail before you can give yourself a fair chance to get started.
3. How Does the Diet Make You Feel About Food?
When you decide to change up your eating habits, based on the diet you choose, how does it make you feel about food? And be honest with yourself—this is important. Does the diet make you look at food like you won’t have the time to count the calories, or does it make you tired just thinking about it? If you get any of these negative types of feelings towards food when you think about the diet, it’s probably not the right diet for you. You should feel excited about this new journey!
4. What Benefits Are You Hoping to Gain From This Diet?
Of course, losing weight is a goal for many people, but what else do you want from this diet? Maybe you want to lower your blood pressure, feel more confident, or have more energy. Losing weight can also make it easier to move your body, and you might even find that your knees and joints hurt less. Think about your other health goals and how the diet can help with them.
Before you jump into any diet, take a moment to ask yourself these important questions. It’s not just about weight loss—it’s about setting realistic, healthy goals that make you feel good inside and out. Remember, a healthy lifestyle isn’t about following strict rules or trying to look like someone else; it’s about doing what feels right for your body and mind. Be patient with yourself, trust the process, and always keep your health as the top priority.
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