America, stop the fad dieting!

Felicia (Fee) Benamon / FeeReports -- The South Beach diet, the Low-Carb Atkins diet, Weight-Watchers, TheZone diet, UGH! Where does it end?! I'll tell you where...at good 'ol common sense, that's where. Unless you are an athlete in training (think bodybuilder or marathon runner), or on a specified diet by your doctor, you shouldn't be dieting or skipping certain foods. It never fails, so-called experts who say one minute that we don't need to eat a certain kind of food...eggs come to mind. Too much cholesterol. Then, they say it's fine. I love eggs and will continue to eat them no matter what an "expert" says. Eggs contain protein. Then there is the attack on salt. Too much of it isn't healthy. Well, not enough iodine intake will leave one with health ailments such as goitre. There has to be a balance. When the talking heads are in full swing, that is when it's time to take back control of your eating habits, using a bit of common sense.

Here's my philosophy...take it as you wish. How about eating anything you want in moderation and exercising? Eat anything you want, from a variety of food groups. Simple, just balance it out. We need fat, we need carbohydrates, we need protein. We can't eliminate one of these nutrients from our food intake. When we diet, we leave out one or the other. Plus the obsessiveness of dieting isn't all isn't worth it. You deserve to eat what you want. Just don't stuff yourself when you eat. If you do, make sure that you are moving and are working off what you just ate.

I also don't expect someone to eat meager portions and expect to be satisfied. Of course, I'm not talking to those who have had stomach surgery. But how is anyone supposed to live off of a spoonful of everything? Not gonna happen.

Fads only encourage you to run back and forth searching for the latest, quickest way to lose weight. Meanwhile, I sit back wondering "Have you lost your mind?!" For example, The Atkins diet was recently the hottest in the country. Everyone was embracing protein, and limiting carbs. But guess what, that's over...in the blink of an eye, society has decided that Atkins just isn't cutting it. Now Atkins is filing for bankruptcy ( Atkins Files Chapter 11 ). So needless to say, that's over. We can all go back to eating bread now.

Taking vitamins/nutritional supplements

I can't stress this enough. Taking a multi-vitamin or supplement is a healthy way to get the vitamins and minerals that we miss from food. We all know that in our fast paced society, we often do not get the nutrition we need. Even President Bush takes them. As an athlete, I like to down nutritional supplements after I work out. Those fitness bars, the protein shakes, not bad at all. I wonder why enough emphasis hasn't been put on these wonderful conveniences to help people live fit and feel great?! They sure are a help! You don't need diet pills, or any other "lose-fat-quick" schemes that will shock your system. Vitamins however, are necessary for your body to function properly.

Eating healthy, hearty, and living life

I hope I have liberated someone today. Enough dieting! No wonder French women look at us and wonder what is wrong with the US women (and men). Food is meant to be enjoyed, not to freak out over. If we learn anything from the French, it's to enjoy your food and enjoy life. Counting calories?! Are you kidding? Do you really want to spend your time making sure that you don't go over a certain amount during the day? Eeek, as if we have enough to do in the day already.

Remember, everyone is not meant to look the same. With today's image obsessed society, the pressure to look perfect and thin, people are resorting to drastic measures to live up to society's standards. Release yourself from that! Be fit, but be happy! It's ok to have a bit of meat on your bones! If you have natural curves, celebrate that! Don't try to starve or diet your way down to looking like a toothpick!

So here it is, Felicia's way to get the most out of life. Do everything in moderation, coupled with exercise, or any vigorous activity. Don't live a sedentary lifestyle. You have only one body, might as well put it to good use. Make sure to take your vitamins! I am reminded of the many times my mother stopped me to ask if I'd taken them when I was a child. We shouldn't neglect to take them just because we are adults.

So...slow down, sit back, relax. Take a break. Have a donut and coffee and push away those thoughts of guilt. Savor the taste! Now, that is what living is all about!

...Just be sure to hit the treadmill within 24 hours of eating that donut.

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