I’m sick of diets and eating ‘protocols.’ Everyone’s either tried it (and failed) or are looking for shortcuts to hack the ‘system’ because it isn’t working for them. It’s now becoming irritating and that’s putting it mildly.
The other day I mentioned why a diet can’t ever be part of your lifestyle. I think I failed to be explicit about the choices that we can make when it comes to eating. And I believe the root of all our problems with food is the unlimited choices that we have today.
The big question is this — what if those choices weren’t available to you? How would you choose to eat? How different would it be?
While I know the responses will vary, I believe that’s precisely the right approach to think about your unique food choices and lifestyle. I think the suffering one goes through experimenting with all these diets is purely optional. It doesn’t have to be like this.
I propose a simpler approach that isn’t scientific or backed by copious research but pure logic and reasoning. I propose that we question ourselves and find answers to the following questions:
- What would you eat if you didn’t have the liberty to have your breakfast and just eat twice a day?
- If you’re the 5-6 small meals person, what will happen if you get to eat just 2 small meals and 1 big meal a day?
- What will happen if you could just eat once a day? And it could be anything to your heart’s content except junk food.
- How would you feel if you were eat only when you’re truly hungry (not a 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 out of 10, but an 11 out of 10)?
Simple questions, right? But answering them just may unlock the best strategy that may work for you in the long haul. This approach is all about embracing hunger and adapting to your unique needs and lifestyle.
If you want to argue that breakfast or intermittent fasting or something else, this isn’t for you. But if you want to get a life, go back to the questions and think. It just may change your life.