Do NOT Diet in 2019 Reason #29: Your name isn't Kelly Bailey
Your name isn’t Kelly Bailey, so why expect my diet to work for you?
Well, maybe your name is Kelly Bailey (apparently it’s a pretty popular name), but unless you and I are identical twins who share the exact same DNA, we’re pretty unique in every other way…including our dietary needs and preferences.
How many times have you heard or read something like this: I’ve got a diet that will solve all of your problems!!! It’s the egg and avocado diet. It’s super simple. All you eat are eggs and avocados. What? You don’t like avocados? You’re allergic to eggs? Well that’s just too bad because this is the egg and avocado diet and it worked for me, so it’ll work for everyone.
Most diets are designed by someone who doesn’t even know you. Most diet plans are created by fitness professionals, doctors, or dietitians who are swayed in one particular direction or another - they read an article or a study about Diet X and decided it’s the best thing ever - or they want to sell you 563 additional products and supplements that complement their “proprietary” meal plan. At best a diet can serve as a framework, but people are often too reliant on these “cookie cutter” measures, which causes them to ignore the signals being sent from their body.
In my years as a nutrition coach and trainer, I have yet to meet two people who flourish on the exact same diet. This is why I no longer write meal plans, and why you should be skeptical of them. No doctor, dietitian, health coach, or nutritionist can tell you when, what, or how much to eat. They don’t know your likes, dislikes, allergies, sensitivities, home situation, or eating schedule.
What you should do instead…
Anti-Diet Wisdom: You are the only one who can truly know what foods work for your body, when to to eat, and how much. So start paying attention to how you feel before, during, and after meals! Most of us are eating on autopilot, never making the connection between hunger, satiety, and how certain foods make us feel. When you begin to tune into your body it will tell you exactly what, when, and how much to eat!
Want help re-learning your body’s signals? Check out my intuitive eating page!
Blog Author: Kelly Bailey, IIN certified holistic nutrition coach, and NPTI certified personal trainer
Learn more about the author here.