What’s the difference and why does it matter?
It’s likely that when you think about your health goals, whether or not weight loss is a goal, the word “diet” comes to mind. That’s because we have been inundated with the idea that diets equal health and that dieting is the most effective way to reach our goals.
So what is a diet anyway? Webster’s Dictionary defines diet as follows: “to restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight.”
Diets focus specifically on the amount and type of food intake and are by definition restrictive.
Lifestyle change, on the other hand, is defined as the adoption of long-term habits, over time, that promote lifelong sustainable health.
Lifestyle changes are not limited to food choices but include modifications in other areas of life including stress management, movement, and relationships. Lifestyle changes allow for flexibility.
The difference between these two is important because which you choose will dramatically impact your long-term success and the tactics you use to move forward. At COCFM, we typically focus on lifestyle changes rather than recommend specific diets because it is more effective for long-term sustainable health.
To determine the best way forward, it is important that you FIRST get clear on what your goals are. Is the result you are looking for crystal clear in your mind?
Once you have clear goals you can start to build a roadmap to reach them. You should focus on developing small achievable lifestyle changes that will over time lead to good health.
If this process seems overwhelming you can partner with one of our coaches. We will help you define and create sustainable habits and help provide structure to support your path.
