One Size Doesn't Fit All for Healthiness

It's that time of year again when the universe is obsessed with getting fit and eating better. If you're like me and keep a consistent fitness plan and eating program (I'm not perfect, so I am making some adjustments in both areas), then you will find this time of year very annoying. You can't find a parking space, squat machine or cardio machine at the gym, and the abundance of posts on social media about eating plans and nutrition challegings. Why? Because everyone is looking for a one size fits all for healthiness. I'll save my opinion about overcrowded gyms and fitness plans for another blog. So let's talk about nutrition.

The U. S. News revealed that the best top three diets for 2020 ( I prefer the term eating programs, not "DIET" because the first three letters of this word spells DIE, and that's not the goal). The top three are the Mediterranean Diet, Dash Diet (the goal is to aim to prevent and lower hypertension) and Flexitarian Diet. The number four spot went to the tried and true Weight Watchers program. The report also suggests when choosing an eating program, it should follow the 3 S's, Safe, Simple, and Sustainable.

Although these are the top-ranked programs for U. S. News, social media has a list of its own, which includes Keto and Whole30, the most popular food eliminating programs for the past two years. The goal for Keto is to get into a state of ketosis. When your body reaches this state is will burn fat for energy instead of carbs and sugar. By doing this, the body burns stored fat…fat loss= weight loss.

Last year I did attempt to go on Ketoterian (the vegetarian version of Keto) for about two months, and I was successful. Still, I found it to be a lifestyle that was not simple because I had to reintroduce my body to foods that are not beneficial for my blood type. Ketoterian was unsustainable due to the amount of fat that's required to keep you in a ketosis state. I'm not suggesting that Keto is not for you because I have coworkers who were very successful. When I asked them about the sustainability of Keto, the reply was it requires discipline, but if your "Why" is important, you can make it a lifestyle change.

Let's take a look at Whole30. I haven't tried Whole30, but again I know others that have been very successful in this program. The Whole30 concept is to cleanse your body of processed foods and foods that can cause bloating and that affect your digestive system, after the completion of 30 days you can begin to add things back into your food regimen to see how it affects your body. I also posed the same question, is Whole30 sustainable? The reply was yes, with consistent planning and preparation.

It's a new decade, and maybe society will realize there is "no one size fits all plan" for healthiness, but only a plan that works best for you. As for me, I've tried many methods, but for my lifestyle, I'm going to stay true to my pecesaterian lifestyle and eating 4 my blood type.