Total diet devotion is, at times, not such a good idea. People often see a diet as an eating plan that must be followed with slavish devotion. The problem is that this sets us up for diet failure. We are all human and we all use food to celebrate and to socialize. These times should be planned as part of your weight loss strategy.
In my own case, extreme dieting in my teenage years likely slowed down my metabolism. In my mid-twenties, I gave up dieting. Why? Well the perfectionist in me never accepted that I was short and chunky and would never have the slinky thinness of a model. I also took every lapse in my diet as a personal failure. This is a mistake I hope everyone will avoid. Perfectionism and an “all or nothing mindset” derailed my dieting for years. The point is that if we allow ourselves some planned diet breaks, our success rate will be higher. Sometimes we all just need to bust out of our restraints.
So when should you not stick to your diet? There are two basic situations. If you have reached a plateau and have not lost weight for a few weeks, up your calorie intake slightly and continue to exercise. Our bodies are designed to burn fewer calories during food shortages. This got us through countless millennia as a species. Dieting can leave our bodies confused. Physically speaking, when we diet our bodies can sometimes think this is a famine. Increasing your food intake and eating more frequently can actually get you losing weight again.
Another time you should not stick to your diet is during major holidays or celebrations. There is a difference between going “hog wild” and just sampling some treats. It is best if you plan ahead of time. At Thanksgiving, decide how much dressing you will eat. Will you have a piece of Auntie Mame’s pumpkin pie? or Uncle Bill’s Apple dumplings or a tiny bit of each. A good plan is to eat protein first and then some vegetables, make sure this is what you fill up on. Then go for the goodies.
Under no circumstance should you feel guilty about your indulgences and don’t let anyone else put a guilt trip on you. If necessary, convince yourself and anyone who has the nerve to ask that this is a planned part of your diet.