We all know someone—or are that person—who is always on a diet, or alternates between diets. They are occasionally successful, at least for a time, and other times they are not. But, invariably, everyone abandons their diet in one way or another.
The reason they fail so frequently is quite simple.
Consider something you detest doing, something you despise but have to do from time to time. Cleaning my car, for example, is something I despise. However, I do have to do it once and again, which is fine because I know that once I've done it, I'll be able to avoid it for a while.
A diet, on the other hand, is like polishing your automobile every day. There's no end in sight because if you return to your old behaviors after finishing your diet, you'll soon need another one.
No matter how motivated you are, something you loathe from the bottom of your heart will eventually fail. And no one likes to go on a diet...
It's as though there's no end to it...
It makes me think of a friend who gave up smoking many years ago. He would light a cigarette now and again, and that cigarette would lead to two or three more, for five or six days in a row. So every time he had a cigarette, he'd have to abstain from smoking for weeks, and he'd have to suffer through it every time.
So, what are your options?
Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done for my friend; he'll have to give up for good, but there is a way to avoid diets: a well-balanced diet.
If you strike the right balance, every meal will taste as nice as it would if you were eating freely. There was no remorse, no anguish, and no guilt. You also get what your body requires, and you don't harm it by being overweight, having high blood pressure, or any of the other ills that we are constantly cautioned about.
It's more than just a diet; it's a way of life. The Mediterranean Diet is exactly that. It's a combination of routine and inventiveness. Consistency with excitement. It also doesn't feel like I'm washing my car.
Vegetables account for half of the meal (for the water, the vitamins, and the fibers)
25% protein (typically from legumes, but also from poultry or meat); 25% carbohydrates (yes, pasta can and should be part of the Mediterranean diet – but not exclusively!)
On top of it, there are always fatty acids (similar to oil, but not nearly as much) and water.
All you need is to get all the nutrients your body requires. Of course, quantity is important, but let's ignore that for now.
Last Friday, I had lunch in the bowl seen below. Bowls appeal to me because they graphically symbolize a well-balanced meal.
Of course, it doesn't have to be on one dish all the time, and the rules aren't as rigorous. If I had a steak with fries at lunch, perhaps a nice vegetable soup for supper will make up for it...
But, in an ideal world, it would be for each meal.
The Mediterranean Diet is not as restrictive as its name implies. It contains certain rules that have been demonstrated to be successful throughout time, as well as specific foods that should be avoided at all costs. In the Mediterranean Diet, there are no foods that are forbidden.
It's a way of life focused on well-balanced meals and regular exercise.
This pyramid might help you figure out what kinds of foods to eat and how often they should be eaten.
So stop looking for your new miracle diet and start living a healthy lifestyle instead.
