Food for thought …

I can’t be the only one a bit confused about all the eating terms flying around at the moment. From clean eating to carb cycling and paleo, I’ve found it hard to figure what I should be eating and what I shouldn’t. And after reading this piece in About Time magazine, in turns out I’m not the only one. So here’s my tuppence worth.

I got married in April and for the two years running up to that, I was on a diet. I must stress this was a choice. I wasn’t big by any stretch of the imagination, but, like most brides I wanted to look my best on the big day. Over the course of two years I tried everything from the Dukan diet, to the 5:2 and everything in between. I lost over a stone. In fact, just before I got married I weighed a little over 8 stone. But what did I find out trying all these different diets? Let me tell you.

The 5:2 and the Dukan are short terms solutions. I lost a lot initially on the Dukan, but for someone who loves their food, the Dukan is too limiting. The 5:2 is less limiting, but living on 500 calories a day is not easy, especially if you like to be active, which I do.

What I did discover … drum roll please … is that the best solution for all of this was good old fashioned healthy eating and exercise. And, that good old phrase your mother always tells you – everything in moderation.

There has to be a shift in mindset. Cake is not a bad thing. Sure, if you eat lots of it chances are it could have a negative impact on both your weight and your health. But if you are eating well and exercising 80% of the time, a sweet treat every now and then shouldn’t be something to be frowned upon, it should be treated as, well, a treat. And treats are to be enjoyed.

When it comes dieting terminology, from my own experience, I say tread with caution. Yes, the principles behind ‘clean eating’ are good per se, but we all have those days when you haven’t had time to make lunch and you shouldn’t punish yourself for buying a salad from M&S.

So, there’s my take on it all. I go to the gym three times a week, prepare my own meals when I can – which include carbs – and if I really, really want that cupcake, I’ll have it. And I’m a normal, healthy weight, and more important than that, I’m happy.

What are your thoughts on these current eating trends? I’d be interested to hear them!