Diets vs. Lifestyle Changes – What to Know
At first glance, these two terms may seem similar to each other. While it’s true that they both help you achieve your fitness and health goals, they have key differences that you must know to truly utilize them for yourself. In this article, we’ll be going through their distinctions and what you can do to create a healthier and better you.
What Diets Are
The first thing that you have to know about diets is that they are temporary. They are meal plans that are followed to achieve short-term goals—and they have end dates, too! Some people go on diets to prepare for an event where they have to dress well, others to lose weight for certain sports events, and so on.
In most cases, dieting becomes synonymous with deprivation. When people go on diets, food becomes a strong temptation they must avoid until they reach their goal. Sometimes, people even go to extremes and starve themselves for prolonged periods just to shed some weight.
There are many reasons for this, but all the same, the diet ends once that event is done. People go back to their normal routines and their old eating habits—and they put the weight back on.
Nevertheless, not all diets are bad. With proper planning and the advice of dietitians and trainers, you can come up with diets that are both safe and effective for you.
What Lifestyle Changes Are
Compared to diets, lifestyle changes are permanent. They involve switching things up in your daily routine and sticking to them for the rest of your life. Aside from your food choices, it also involves changing your outlook in life.
Moreover, the goal you are trying to achieve here isn’t short-term. It’s all about looking at the bigger picture and taking care of yourself to improve the quality of your life in the long run.
Considering this, the changes involved here may be introduced gradually. After all, you are not chasing after a deadline, and you are essentially reworking the way you live. For you to form healthier habits successfully, it’s best to improve certain aspects of your life one at a time, slowly and steadily.
Finally, you can find a diet that matches your new lifestyle so that you can achieve your weight goals in a healthier manner. By doing so in conjunction, you can also start to view meals and nourishment in a more positive light!
How to Change Your Lifestyle Healthily
As mentioned above, making a lifestyle change is a big project—it requires a lot of time, discipline, commitment, and effort from you. If you’re ready to make a change, do your research, make a plan, and follow these steps suggested by the American Psychological Association.
- Be patient with yourself. You don’t need to make big changes right away; you can begin by forming small habits and allow your body to transition well.
- Don’t multitask. Most of the time, it won’t be effective. List down all the things you hope to achieve, but focus only on one at a time.
- Surround yourself with people who have the same goal. You can support each other to endure this process and come out victorious!
- Remember that failure is normal. You will make unwise food and lifestyle choices now and then. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Admit where you went wrong, then stand up and get back on track.
Conclusion
If you want to enjoy long-lasting results, making lifestyle changes rather than simply going on diets is the smarter choice. Changing your way of life—from your food choices and eating habits to your overall outlook—is an effective way to achieve your long-term goals. And with these life goals in mind, you’ll notice that your diets will also become healthier. Rather than the numbers on the scale, it will be about becoming the better version of yourself.
Looking for a personalized fitness program in Wellesley? We have got you covered! Here at The Fit Factor, we believe that fitness is a lifestyle—so we take the time to understand your goals and align with your motivation. Our aim is to push you to move toward your goals every day. Ready to get started? Get in touch with us today!
Chad has been my personal trainer for over 10 years. He is very dedicated and resourceful as a trainer. I would highly recommend Chad. He has kept my body healthy through all these years and in my 50s. Chad is also very accommodating to working with your schedule. Wouldn't go anywhere else.
I love working out with Chad! I have been working out with him for the past year and a half and have had the best results compared with other trainers. Chad’s dedication to his clients, humor, warmth and expertise are a winning combination. I look forward to our sessions and always leave feeling stronger, more flexible and energetic. I highly recommend Chad.
I have been working with Chad (the trainer) for almost three years now and have gone through an amazing transformation! He bonds greatly with his clients and is a very qualified trainer. He tailors workouts to individual clients and has helped me perform better as an equestrian and achieve my physique goals. If you are looking for a great one-on-one trainer, I would highly recommend.
When I started going to the fit factor I went in thinking I had a pretty good knowledge of weight lifting and exercise without having much to improve. I was so wrong! Chad was incredible and really took the time to explain and show proper technique as well as a variety of different exercises that I had never done before. I now have much more confidence in my form and have a really great and well rounded routine. Additionally, Chad catered to my personal goals and really listened to what I wanted to accomplish. I cannot recommend The fit factor and Chad enough!
I have been weight lifting for over five years but have never had dedicated instruction from a trainer. Chad was able to notice where my form was failing and correct it immediately. He also guided me towards effective exercises so that I could keep achieving my goals and moving up. After a couple of months of working with him I was able to see some great results. Chad knows his stuff!
Chad has been great with not only the types of specialized workouts each session but also with checking in after the sessions. He has a real passion for seeing people make big health changes; which makes it fun. Would highly recommend!
I went to Chad looking to get back in shape and lose weight, which had crept up from working long hours. Chad was super patient and non-judgmental. We started at a level where I would see results but not get so sore or so disappointed at what I could not do it. He focused on what I could do if I pushed myself hard and taught me that step/skill building was an integral part of the process. We also talked about nutrition and self-care. As other reviews have mentioned, he cares about his clients beyond the appointment time, and wants them to make positive change to their lives that will stick. I lost 30+ pounds and I am in the best shape of my life. I have been able to maintain this for 2 years. He taught me how to create a sustainable workout plan. Even during the pandemic I was able to maintain my weight and my fitness level thanks for his frequent check-ins and the solid fitness base we created through his work and fitness mentorship. I highly recommend him!
I started with Chad in August 2020, my first semester of college was cancelled and i needed something active to do. At that point I was a small underweight kid looking to gain muscle and gain weight. I went to Chad 3 times a week until late January 2021. Those 5 months were great, I really enjoyed going to chad and it was the highlight of my week and something I would look forward to going to 3 times every week. Throughout this time Chad has perfected my form on workouts and had a great and unique workout for me everytime. I went in weighing 125 pounds at 5’10 and now I weigh 150 pounds after the five months. Not only did Chad give workouts but he also gave me a diet for me to follow so I could maximize my time with him. He really personalizes workouts for each person. Currently i’m in the best shape of my life and am super confident in my body. GO TO FIT-FACTOR!!