"douglerner" wrote in message
...
On Apr 7, 12:14 pm, "Willow Herself"
wrote:


That's what WW is teaching. The diet mentality is strongly discouraged.


This last part I still don't get though.

OK. I know people need whatever psychological "bag of tricks" and
system (be it points, calories, cutting back on carbs to reduce
appetite and hope the rest falls in to place, limited lists of
"filling foods", complicated rations of protein-fat-carbs, weekly
bonuses, whatever) to create some way to lose weight and maintain a
healthy lifestyle.

I call that a diet though. To me that's what it is. I *need* the rules
or I simply won't lose. The rules are, to me, constitute a diet. It's
a useful English word and I don't see a reason to avoid it.

Of course, as with most things, everybody feels differently about this
- and that is fine. If somebody finds the word "diet" bothersome or
burdensome and they prefer to call it a plan or a lifestyle that's
fine. But I think the English word for a plan or lifestyle that
determines what you eat is called a "diet" and the word doesn't bother
me at all.

In fact, saying that I am sticking to my "diet" sounds upbeat and
positive to me.

doug

The trouble comes from the fact that "diet" has two related meanings. 1.
Your regular consumption whether or not you are trying to lose weight is
simply what you eat. 2. Restricting calories with the intention of losing
weight.

For many people, the second definition is the one they always think of and
subconsciously tie it to deprivation AND the thought that someday they will
be "done" and can quit the diet. However WW is trying to teach us to switch
to a healthy diet for life (i.e. making definition 1 a healthy diet). By
using "lifestyle" for it, they are emphasizing that this must be a
permanent, lifelong change to a healthy diet to keep the weight off. The
"rules" and "points" are simply a useful way to package the government food
pyramid in a form that people can easily understand and follow. Yes it is
all psychological but that is what it takes for most people to lose weight
AND MAINTAIN that loss.

Only a few people would have the strength to continue if you tell them that
they have to "diet" for the rest of their lives. They handle it much better
when it is presented as a lifestyle change.