What Is A Diet?

Since my family has changed our eating habits, there have been conversations with many different people about our "diet". Many people hear diet and they think about losing weight magically. Diet is not a strict “you can’t eat that” regimen, but rather a conscious effort to eat healthy, well-balanced foods that will benefit your body. Yes, you can lose weight with what you eat with exercise and yes you can gain weight as well. There are many people out there that are looking for a magical solution of losing weight with only eating as little as possible and not exercising. There is no solution for losing weight without exercising and starving yourself. With changing your diet (what you eat) and exercising, even if it is walking, I can tell you that you will start losing weight.


The Dietary Guidelines for Americans describe a healthy diet as one that:
• Balances calories with physical activity to manage weight
• Includes more of certain foods and nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fatfree and low-fat dairy products, and seafood
• Includes fewer foods with sodium (salt), saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, added
sugars, and refined grains

It is recommended that:
45% to 65% of your total calories come from carbohydrates.
20%-35% of your total calories come from fat.
10%–35% of your daily calories come from protein.


Staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining optimal health; however, the recommended amount
varies on the need of the individual. It is important to be aware of your body’s needs and be
consistent in your fluid intake. Avoid drinks that contain excess amounts of added sugar or that
will cause your body to be dehydrated, such as soda or energy drinks.

I am by no means a doctor or a professional that you should take dietary advice from, but there are resources available that you can educate yourself on what your body needs. We are a gluten free/organic as possible family and I am going to tell you that there is no miracle fix all and does take dedication. One of the hardest things I have dealt with while changing my diet is going gluten free. It takes a lot of hard work but makes a world of difference now that I am not tired all of the time and no more headaches or stomach issues.

Part 2 will be an explanation on exercise.