Dieting is one of our country’s greatest obsessions. Nearly 45 million Americans go on a diet and spend upwards of $33 billion on weight-loss products each year.
But are they really getting the most out of their choices? Unfortunately, the numbers tell us that they aren’t. Around 80% of folks who try to diet ultimately fail.
We don’t want you to be a part of that statistic. That’s why our team at Optimal Performance Medicine, led by Dr. Michael Skardasis, is dedicated to helping you find the diet that works best for you.
For some, diet is a four-letter word, and we understand why. Most diets feel like a list of don’ts, a means to an end. Because of this, dieting has earned a bad reputation.
But to us, dieting isn’t just about losing stubborn weight or getting the body of your dreams (though that is a plus). It’s about establishing healthy habits that help you change your life for the better—and for good.
That said, we never want you to jump head first into something as important as a new diet. Here are a few things to consider.
Our priority in nutritional counseling is making sure that your diet is balanced. And when we say balanced, we mean it. Your diet should include proper portions of each food group (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy) to provide maximum nutrition.
It should also include a few of your favorite treats. If you have a sweet tooth, it makes no sense to cut yourself off completely. This puts you at risk of overindulging when the cravings become too powerful. Instead, focus on reducing the amount of indulging you do and balance it with making the best choices you can with your other meals.
Dieting should never be one-size-fits-all. Your own preferences, lifestyle, and dietary needs should contribute to your diet program.
For instance, if you’re a vegetarian, we can help you find ways to get enough protein. On the other hand, if you loathe the idea of lettuce, we can help you sneak vegetables into your diet.
Furthermore, we can also help you find a diet that works for your lifestyle, whether you’re a busy stay-at-home parent, construction worker, or business executive.
Bottom line: We can help you find a diet that works for you.
Most patients who see us for nutritional counseling want to lose weight — that means dieting and exercising. Even if you’re only getting moderate amounts of activity, your diet should have enough protein and carbohydrates to fuel your body through each workout.
If you haven’t already tried them personally, you likely know someone who’s tried a diet program like Keto, intermittent fasting, paleo, etc. While these programs have some proven benefits, they’re not for everyone.
So, if you’re looking to get into one of the popular diets, just be sure that it’s not too restrictive. For instance, the Mediterranean diet has some guidelines, but on the whole, you’re encouraged to eat a wide range of nutritious foods and build healthy habits.
Always talk to Dr. Skardasis and our team before starting a new program. We can help you identify some possible pitfalls and show you how to make the plan work best for you.
Ready to find a diet that actually works? We’d love to talk with you. Call our friendly staff or use our online booking tool to request an appointment at our Woodstock, Georgia, office today.
