You will never eat perfectly.

This is not intended to be fatalistic or discouraging. Rather, I am letting you off the hook. Let me explain.

It seems like there are as many different diets and ways of eating today as there are people. Whole30, paleo, vegan, Mediterranean, Weight Watchers, Simply Fit, low fat, low carb, low salt, low sugar, high protein, low fat high carb, blah blah blah. Sometimes when a person asks what I think of such-and-such new diet, I have to go see what it is because I haven't heard of it yet. I can't keep up because there are new diets introduced just about every day. There are hundreds, and while most profess to be "The One True Way," a lot of them are actually quite similar to one another.

The reality is there is no "One True Way" to eating healthfully or weight loss. While research finds that some people benefit more on some diets than others, generally the most effective diet for each individual is the one that's easiest for them to stick to. That rules out A LOT of modern diets because they are miserable, unnecessarily restrictive, and unsustainable.

If you are following a diet plan or way of eating that demands perfection, be skeptical. My hunch is that this is set up- as long as you're failing, you will keep coming back. Rather than intending to help, the goal is to foster dependence. Same goes for any diet lauded as THE WAY either by those who sell it or those who follow it. There are many different paths to health, and they don't all require the exact same way of eating. There are tons of ways to eat that can provide appropriate nutrition, enjoyment, and good health. What is most important is that you are getting what you need in a way that you feel good about and can live with indefinitely. If you can't say that about the way you're eating now, maybe it's time to find a better way!*

*for you, which may not be better for someone else!

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