Week 22 - "Diet" Isn't A Bad Word

I went to visit my naturopath this past week, and he's quite excited to have me try a new diet plan. The word "diet" has been misconstrued over the years, almost to the point of having lost it's true meaning. The mere mention of the word conjures up images of a non-stop barrage of leafy greens and tasteless broth, which is unfair. You should never "go on a diet", but you should be willing to "alter your diet".

Anyway, my naturopath wanted me to try this "new" diet plan. I usually heed his advice without question, but this time I felt a little skeptical. I flipped through the brochure, taking note of the images of fit and healthy people happily bouncing around. Once I arrived at the food chart, an alarm went off immediately. The first meal of the day was to consist of a protein shake. But not just ANY protein shake, an (insert the diet company's name here) shake. I've been seeing this naturopath for many years now, and he's never really pushed fancy marketing at me before. I mentioned that I wouldn't be interested in purchasing the "required meal supplements" for this plan. He was understanding, and said the meal plan alone can be effective without the shake. As I read on, I saw a lot of familiar information, as if I'd seen it somewhere before...

I've been at this for what feels like an eternity, filling my head with more knowledge than I thought I'd ever attain on the subject. And after years upon years of research, I've been able to pare it down to a very simple formula.

A healthy diet consists of frequent meals, smaller portions, fresh produce, lean proteins, and exercise.

Of course there's much more to it than just that, but I think most would agree that's a fairly accurate summary in 20 words or less. The "new" diet plan I was being pitched wasn't that "new" at all. It consisted of exactly what I already knew that I had to do. The problem that I'm having is how to consistently put my knowledge to good use. I've been told the same thing over and over again for years now, but for some reason my mind and body keep trending towards poor eating habits and inactivity. Do I need to be sent to the corner like a misbehaving child to learn my lesson? What will it take? I've sunk many dollars into diet plans, trainers, wagers, and athletic programs to try and motivate myself, but the ebb and flow of my life always sways me back.

Needless to say, I won't be sinking any money into a diet plan of which it's "secrets" are already known. All I have to do I apply the knowledge I already have, and really curb my weekend madness. Seriously, the garbage I've been slinging into my muzzle as of late has been monumental. I'm ashamed, but ready to smarten up again. On the fitness side of things, I've put together my training plan for the upcoming half marathon. If I can keep to the consistent schedule from now until then, I should be able to finish without too much of a problem. However, my first few "runs" have been anything but. Mostly a brisk walk with the occasional trot thrown in, but at least I'm getting out there again. I also need new shoes. Badly.

In summation, things have been stable for me lately. During the week, I'm a saint, but the weekends grab a hold of me and refuse to allow proper food to cross my lips. Now that I'm going to be physically active again (at least for the foreseeable future), it should make my transition from weekend disaster to someone with a more level-headed attitude towards how I fuel my body. It remains eternally frustrating to know what I should be doing, but continually refusing to do what I should be doing.

**NOTE: This is my 50th post, and it goes to show that I'm still "all talk", as the weight loss yo-yo continues to bounce...