Is Diet the New Religion?

Remember those two things you're not supposed to discuss at a dinner party -- politics and religion? Maybe we should add diet to that list.

Some people are so emotionally attached to the foods they eat they act morally offended if you dare to eat differently.

Instead of Protestants, Muslims and Jews, we have the low carbers, the low fatters and the portion controllers. Even among the low carbers, we have the high fatters vs the low fatters. And let's not even get started with the Paleos and vegans.

Whether we're eating for pleasure, eating to lose weight, eating to be healthy or any combination thereof, there is a belief system behind our dietary choices. And any time we believe something, we get an irrational emotional attachment to it.

In a former life I was a low-fat vegan and thought that was a morally superior choice from both a health and planetary perspective. I had the typical missionary zeal that comes with being a self-righteous extremist of any sort.

More recently, I lost 35 pounds on the Medifast diet and was pretty quiet about it. If someone asked me how I lost my weight, I told them (and then waited for the inevitable eye roll because I was eating processed replacement meals instead of whole foods in moderation).

Not to mention I was going against the official United States government diet du jour, which preaches low fat and high carb. The feds now force schools to provide children with low- or non-fat  milk -- including chocolate milk -- despite the fact that so-called healthy non-fat chocolate milk contains 26g of sugar compared to only 12g of sugar in whole-fat white milk (which is now "sinful").

But is all that added sugar really healthier than the natural fat in milk that helps you feel satisfied so you won't be jonesing for a Twix bar an hour later? My bible says "no."

So you can imagine how excited I was to read a New York Times article yesterday that turns conventional wisdom on its head. "A Call for a Low-Carb Diet" reports on a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that comes down squarely in favor of low carb vs low fat. 

Times writer Anahad O'Connor put it right out there in the lede: "People who avoid carbohydrates and eat more fat, even saturated fat, lose more body fat and have fewer cardiovascular risks than people who follow the low-fat diet that health authorities have favored for decades, a major new study shows."

Since I now try to eat a relatively low-carb diet and don't worry too much about the fats in my food, I feel somewhat (okay, a lot) vindicated. But I will try not to be all holy roller about this.

My belief system is always subject to change as new scientific evidence emerges on what is healthy, and I rely on my body to tell me what feels right for me. So if I pass on the potatoes at dinner it's not a religious statement. It's just how I'm eating right now.

You can purchase Medifast replacement meals directly from Medifast Centers, the Medifast website or -- for no extra cost -- through the co-branded website of a Medifast TSFL health coach. Medifast does not recommend purchasing its products from third party vendors, but if you choose to do so, you can find them on both Amazon and eBay.

Medifast replacement meals on Amazon


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Diet Psychology: Focus on the Food That's Already in Your Mouth

I was reading one of my old articles on mindful eating guru Geneen Roth's reaction to losing her life's savings after investing in Bernie Madoff's pyramid scheme; and one of Roth's insights really resounded with me:

"My relationship to money was no different from my relationship to food, to love, to fabulous sweaters: I never felt as if I had enough. I was always focused on the bite that was yet to come, not the one in my mouth."

So true.

I sometimes catch myself chewing my food really fast just so I can take the next bite and re-experience the high that comes from the fresh burst of flavors hitting my taste buds. The partially chewed food in my mouth becomes the proverbial "chopped liver" -- no longer meriting my respect or attention. Like the way you feel when the person you're talking to at the party looks around for someone more interesting.

Author Geneen Roth writes brilliantly
about our dysfunctional relationship
with food

As Roth so profoundly implies, unless we focus on the experience we are having in the present moment, we are never going to feel satisfied. How can we have "enough" when we are forever preoccupied with the promise of something better?

The whole idea of mindful eating is really a metaphor for focusing on what is good about our life in the present. The more we plan ahead or pine for more, the less we enjoy the people and things that comprise our world.

I may not have a wardrobe of fabulous sweaters, but I own more black tops than a roomful of mourners. Each one I find is far better than the ones already sitting neatly folded on my shelf (okay, may not so neatly folded). Or so I tell myself.

Whether it's an over-stuffed closet or an over-stuffed body, the result is the same. Too much. But never enough.

So today I'm going to take the time to savor each bite of food and wear a forgotten article of clothing in my closet I once thought I could not live without.

How about you?

You can purchase Medifast replacement meals directly from Medifast Centers, the Medifast website or -- for no extra cost -- through the co-branded website of a Medifast TSFL health coach. Medifast does not recommend purchasing its products from third party vendors, but if you choose to do so, you can find them on both Amazon and eBay.

Medifast replacement meals on Amazon

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Greek Yogurt is Greeeeeeeeat! How This Yogurt Hater Became a Fan Girl

If Tony the Tiger were still around, he'd be eating Greek yogurt.

Despite myriad TV commercials showing women deriving almost sexual pleasure from eating a spoonful of yogurt, I was never a fan. Just didn't care for the tangy notes or artificial flavors.

It seemed like another Madison Avenue conspiracy to trick women into thinking they were eating something amazing instead of some sick tasting milk that was left out of the fridge too long.

Not surprisingly, yogurt commercial parodies began popping up on the Internet. Like this one. And this one.

Like the little boy in "The Emperor's New Clothes," comedians figured out that most women don't really get that excited about yogurt. They eat it because it's fast and convenient and supposedly good for their diets.

Buy your own Greek yogurt and add the honey yourself.
It's cheaper, and you control the sweetness.

Of course, Greek yogurt is different. It's thick and creamy and has twice the protein of it's older sister. It's also as close to ice cream as you can get without consuming a quart of Ben & Jerry's (which romcom woman always seem to eat straight out of the carton standing in front of the freezer in size 0 jeans).

There is a whole stock photo category of
"pretty young women eating yogurt"

Yesterday I had some plain Greek Trader Joe's Greek yogurt to which I added a fresh cut-up peach, chopped pecans and a drizzle of honey. I almost felt like one of those women from the TV commercials as I savored each thick, creamy spoonful with bursts of contrasting textures and flavors from the mix-ins.

The key to doing Greek yogurt right is to doctor it up yourself. Don't be putting candy in it and think you're eating healthy. Fresh fruit, nuts and a hint of sweetener (I use honey to keep it real) enrich its nutritional profile and balance out the protein with just the right amount of carbs and fat.


You can purchase Medifast replacement meals directly from Medifast Centers, the Medifast website or -- for less cost -- through the co-branded website of a Medifast TSFL health coach. Medifast does not recommend purchasing its products from third party vendors, but if you choose to do so, you can find them on both Amazon and eBay.

Medifast Bars - ALL FLAVORS - You Choose ANY 20 Boxes



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Why Diets and Weekends Don't Mix (and What You Can Do About It)

Remember that old advertising jingle "Weekends are made for Michelob?"

Okay, it was aired in 1977; so unless you're over 50, you probably don't. Here's a link to one of the commercials to get you up to speed on this retro pop culture classic.

If you're too busy to watch, here are some key lines from the lyrics:

Weekends were made for having fun.

Yes, the best time of the week was made for you and Michelob.

Weekends were made for Michelob 

And the voice over at the end...

It's your weekend . . . something to look forward to -- like Michelob. If there ever was a beer as special as the weekend, it's Michelob.

The message is clear. Weekends are special. It's the best time of the week.

If you typically work Monday through Friday, weekends are like mini-vacations, a time to reward yourself for being so responsible all week.

From 6pm Friday to 6am Monday, our inner Puritan hibernates and our party girl comes out to play.

We deserve to have some fun.

It's the weekend.

To make things worse, Friday, Saturday and Sunday are also the most common days of the week for people to attend parties, watch football (excuse to eat nachos), go to the movies (hello? popcorn!) and dine at restaurants. Danger, Will Robinson. Diet saboteurs on the loose ready to detonate all will power.

One solution, of course, is to quit your job and find a weekend gig. But on second thought, that won't work because then you'd have Monday through Friday to overindulge.

This vintage advertisement has nothing
to do with the topic of this blog post,
but I thought it was funny

The real solution is to reward yourselves with OTF (other than food). And the best way to motivate yourself to do this is to go shopping. I'm not saying you should substitute your food addiction for shopaholicism, but just the act of trying on clothes is a great reminder that you are trying to lose weight or maintain the body weight you worked so hard to achieve. You don't have to buy anything. Leave your credit cards at home for all I care.

Then plan other activities that are not food related. Or, if they are, be prepared. Plan in advance what you're going to eat. If you go to the movies, bring your own popcorn in the right portion size. Feast on veggies and hummus while watching football. Decide what you want to eat before heading to a restaurant (most menus are online these days). Avoid drinking (or drinking too much) at parties because it will cause you to do things you'll regret (food- and otherwise). And, if you smoke pot, munchies are not your friend.

Of course, it's okay to splurge now and again (though not necessarily if you're in weight loss mode). But those exceptions should be planned and not the result of a rubber spine.

Sure, weekends are special. But there are 52 of them each year. That's 52 chances to keep your body healthy or say the heck with it. If you stay focused on what is most important to you, chances are good you will make good choices.

You can purchase Medifast replacement meals directly from Medifast Centers, the Medifast website or -- for less cost -- through the co-branded website of a Medifast TSFL health coach. Medifast does not recommend purchasing its products from third party vendors, but if you choose to do so, you can find them on both Amazon and eBay.

Medifast Bars - ALL FLAVORS - You Choose ANY 20 Boxes



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Follow Nancy's board Low Carb Recipes on Pinterest.

New Costco Find: Kale and Feta Cheese Salmon Burgers

These Savory Fish and Superfood "Burgers" from Costco
Are Perfect for Both Medifast and Low Carb Dieters

I hate shopping at Costco. I have mini panic attacks just from the sheer size of the store, overwhelming selection, and hoards of families loading up on jumbo bags of hot dogs. Plus, I am convinced many parents take their 2.5 kids with them in a conspiracy to block my cart.

Yet, despite my detestation of the Costco shopping experience, I love having Costco food in my freezer.

So I usually "send" my husband there to stock up on staples, but then I never know when they have an amazing new product.

Like the Kale and Feta Cheese Salmon Burgers from J. Scott Foods.

The last time I went to Costco I noticed this product in the frozen fish section where in the past I had picked up my ordinary salmon burgers. The package immediately caught my eye since I love salmon, kale and feta and figured they would all taste even better together.

And I was right.

In fact, I could eat one of these burgers every day for lunch. Plain. On a plate.

They are that good.

Yesterday I got fancy and chopped one up with some avocado and just-plucked tomato.

Even better.

Despite their being called burgers, these babies need neither buns nor sauce. They are savory and have a perfect texture, whether you microwave them or saute in a pan with a little olive oil. (Curiously, the box recommends baking in the oven, but who has time for that?)

What is especially remarkable is their nutritional profile: one burger has 19 grams of protein, only 2 grams of carbs and -- get this -- only 130 calories.

I searched the Internet for reviews on this product and could not find a single one. I have no idea why since this may be the best single product Costco has ever carried.

Of course, that means they will probably stop carrying it soon.

Let's hope they have a long freezer life, because I am going to take some Xanax and head back to Costco to stock up on these . . . just in case.

Lunch du jour

Update: I ate these again for lunch (third day in a row). Out of tomato so I added some OPA Jalapeno Ranch dressing. Mmmmmmmmm.

You can purchase Medifast replacement meals directly from Medifast Centers, the Medifast website or -- for no extra cost -- through the co-branded website of a Medifast TSFL health coach. Medifast does not recommend purchasing its products from third party vendors, but if you choose to do so, you can find them on both Amazon and eBay.

Medifast replacement meals on Amazon

Similar posts: 

How Medifast Helped Me Develop Better Habits

Medifast Centers Vs. DIY Medifast

Irrational Numbers: Doing the Math on Medifast Popcorn

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Visit my other blogs:

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Follow Nancy's board Medifast on Pinterest.

How Your Inner Frank Underwood Could Be Foiling Your Diet

If you're feeling fat or out of shape, blame Frank Underwood. We all have a smidge of that "House of Cards" anti-hero inside our minds who manipulates us to do things we know are bad for us.

Like eating that cupcake at a meeting, just because everyone else does.

"The lone wolf is eaten by the bear," Frank cautions.

Or changing our minds at the last minute by ordering a cheeseburger instead of a salad.

"Cheaters always prosper," Frank says.

Or convincing ourselves that diets don't work.

"Live by your own rules," Frank declares.

Though the fictional Frank Underwood has succeeded in rising from a relatively lowly congressman to President of the United States, we all suspect his evil behavior will come back to bite him. So why would we want him dictating our behavior?

Sure, Frank hasn't met anyone in his world yet who can rival him when it comes to persuasion and manipulation, but we're not limited to the cast of "The House of Cards" for inspiration. We have a chorus of voices -- from "Live Your Best Life" Oprah to "If you can dream it, you can do it" Walt Disney -- who can steer us in the right direction.

A member on one of my Medifast Facebook groups recently complained about getting the business at a family reunion for not feasting on all the fattening foods at the buffet table. He got plenty of support from other members of our group who told him his relatives were feeling guilty for not eating better themselves. It threatened them that he was taking control over his fork because he proved it could be done.

So whether the Frank Underwood who is defeating you is an inner voice or your 350-pound Uncle Ralph stuffing his mouth with potato salad, ask yourself, "Is he the role model I want to follow?"

If not, create your own character -- a wise owl, a loving aunt, a movie or TV hero who has overcome titanic hurdles. Let let their voice talk loudest and drown out those who would defeat you.


You can purchase Medifast replacement meals directly from Medifast Centers, the Medifast website or -- for no extra cost -- through the co-branded website of a Medifast TSFL health coach. Medifast does not recommend purchasing its products from third party vendors, but if you choose to do so, you can find them on both Amazon and eBay.

Medifast replacement meals on Amazon

Similar posts: 

How Medifast Helped Me Develop Better Habits

Medifast Centers Vs. DIY Medifast

Irrational Numbers: Doing the Math on Medifast Popcorn

Medifast Vs. Lean Cuisine Diet

Visit my other blogs:

Fit Kitty

Food Trends 

Bookish

Dictionary Woman

Follow Nancy's board Medifast on Pinterest.

Why Europeans Are So Slim and Other Weight Loss Secrets I Learned at Yosemite

I just came back from a few days communing with nature at Yosemite and met almost as many Europeans as I did the last time I holidayed on the continent (okay, so I've only crossed the Atlantic twice... but it sounded cool).

Yosemite is a great place to go if you want to meet non-Americans because almost every European puts this national gem on their itinerary as a must-see. The Europeans we met -- a Dutch triad, an Italian duo with their little girl, and a 40-something Lithuanian couple -- were all as slim as Slinkys.

Though all three groups were from different countries, here's what I noticed they had in common:

They were relaxed. Despite being in a different country and having to deal with strange (to them) customs, the Europeans seemed as carefree as birds. Being stressed out produces a hormone called cortisol that can make you retain belly fat; so not sweating the small stuff can help you stay slim.

They split meals. This old dieter's trick was a no-brainer for the Europeans, whose typical portion sizes are smaller than American restaurant meals. Since to-go boxes are not practical on vacation, they simply shared one entree and ordered an extra salad.

They don't drink nearly as much soda. Whether it's diet or not, Pepsi is not your pal. When I asked the 42-year-old Lithuanian guy his secret for looking so young, he said he never drinks soda. Soda is more pricey in Europe, and the concept of free refills doesn't exist. The average European drinks far less of this fizzy beverage than Big Gulping Americans.

They walk more. Like soda, gas is also more spendy abroad; so Europeans typically walk to more places than Americans. At Yosemite, you can take a shuttle to different sites or walk to them. Guess who took the shuttles and who walked?

You can purchase Medifast replacement meals directly from Medifast Centers, the Medifast website or -- for less cost -- through the co-branded website of a Medifast TSFL health coach. Medifast does not recommend purchasing its products from third party vendors, but if you choose to do so, you can find them on both Amazon and eBay.




More from Diet Skeptic:

Fruck You! Fructose

Can You Drink Alcohol on Medifast

Medifast Centers Vs. Take Shape for Life

Planned Exceptions: What Is Your Pie Policy?

Wabi Sabi Dieting & Renee Zelwegger's New Face
Follow Nancy's board Low Carb Recipes on Pinterest.