When you are trying to lose weight, more likely than not you will have needed to make some changes to what you eat. But how do you know if your diet is too restrictive. After all, there is a balance needed to make sure that you’ll be losing weight in a healthy way and that the pounds will stay off once they’re gone. Overdoing it won’t do you any favors.
But how do you know the difference between a strategy that is building new habits for long term weight management, and when a diet is too restrictive? It isn’t always easy to tell. After all, while you’re in the midst of changing the way you eat, your body and lifestyle already feel different, so you might not yet know what “normal” feels like.
Use the following to help yourself to know whether your diet is too restrictive:
• You avoid eating food you didn’t make yourself – If you’re hesitating to accept invitations to dinners and parties with friends and family because you can’t eat or drink anything they’re serving, then you’re likely restricting yourself too much. Instead of skipping them altogether, consider your portion sizes. Furthermore, keep in mind that you’re not eating out every night. One “off-the-plan” dinner isn’t going to derail a regular effort to keep things healthy.
• You crave dessert, eat it, then feel guilty about it afterward – If you’re experiencing powerful sugar cravings, giving into them and then torturing yourself about it once you do, then you’re getting too restrictive. Instead, be mindful about the way you think of dessert. If you love something sweet after your meal, choose a healthful alternative on most days. Fresh berries can be a great way to enjoy sweetness while staying healthy. That said, on special occasions or when you have the chance to try something truly glorious, go for it. Have a portion in a reasonable size and take the opportunity to savor every bite. Drag it out. Instead of wolfing down a giant piece of cake, slowly enjoy a small one. Any “damage” to your diet will be minimal and the fact that you’re eating mindfully on a regular basis will easily make up for it.
• You eat food for what it contains, not for how it tastes – If you can’t remember the last time you really enjoyed a sumptuous meal because you’ve been so focused on calories and nutrients, then you’re restricting yourself too much. Remember that taste and enjoyment are a very important part of your relationship with food. Find recipes that tick both boxes – tasty and nutritious.
