Let me set the stage: You're out for dinner with a few friends, laughing it up, having the time of your life. The waiter comes over with your drinks and asks if you're ready to order. You've been ready for the past fifteen minutes because you always get the same thing here. All the orders have been placed but one. And that last person asks, "Do you have anything Keto?"
Each new year comes with new trendy diets, and 2019 was no exception. So let's look at a few of the biggest diet trends--intermittent fasting, keto, and mindful eating--and see how affordable and effective they are.
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting goes back to the roots of the human race when we were forced to rely on unreliable hunting, gathering, and agriculture. There are a lot of ways to apply an intermittent fast in your diet. According to Healthline, two of the most common ways is to have a 16 hour fast daily of a 24 hour fast biweekly. That means no eating for specified periods of time.
Let's look at the affordability: Obviously, fasting is a way to save money. You're cutting out a few meals each week which means you don't have to buy as much food. My suggestion would be to use that extra money that you've saved to buy very nutrient rich, healthy foods to make sure you're still getting all of those good vitamins and proteins that you need.
As for effectiveness, various levels of success have been reported. Many report significant weight loss. My dad is currently trying out the 16 hour daily fast and has been raving about the results. Others say it's the natural way to eat.
Still, it can effect hormone levels and may be dangerous if you have ever dealt with eating disorders. If you decide intermittent fasting is for you, make sure you read up on the science of it and decide what works best for you.
As for me, I have a religious fast once a month for breakfast and dinner. I haven't noticed any results, but I have been fasting like that my whole life, and it's not nearly as extreme as the above mentioned fasting.
Keto
Everywhere I go, I hear about keto, or is it just me? I mentioned it my roommate and she went on a rant about how carbs are essential for the body to function. My mom went keto for a few months. I made a keto chocolate cake over the summer. It's everywhere.
For those that don't know, "'Ketogenic' is a term for a low-carb diet (like the Atkins diet). The idea is for you to get more calories from protein and fat and less from carbohydrates. You cut back most on the carbs that are easy to digest, like sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread" (WebMD).
Let's talk price. Protein is expensive. Carbs are cheap. There are ways to subsidize the cost of meat. Eggs are cheap and a wonderful source of protein. However, meat, cheese, and nuts all tend to be on the pricier side of the scale. Overall, keto might not be the friendliest diet to your wallet.
But if it works, it might be worth it. And the sources say that it does. My mom was able to lose weight while on the keto diet. Many of my aunts and uncles are talking about their success stories. There's a reason everyone is talking about it.
My suggestions that I've learned from my mom's experience: Keto isn't sustainable. Like my roommate said, carbs are good for you in moderation. If you're trying to lose weight, you can try keto, but know that it's not a lifestyle change, it's a diet.
Mindful Eating
Remember that roommate that went on a keto rant? She'll talk your ear off about mindful eating too. I might too, because it might be my favorite diet on this list because it's not a diet.
It's a sustainable lifestyle change.
Mindful eating is all about learning to listen to your body instead of our emotions and learning to eat smart. It's not about limiting what kinds of food you eat either.
Money-wise, mindful eating is going to run you about the same as your normal grocery shopping. There's a chance that you're going to spend way less because you've been severely overeating, but with me it was the difference of a few bites of food.
I'm not sure if any crazy weigh transformation is going to come from mindful eating, but overtime I promise that you'll feel better. It's like yoga for your diet. You get all in tune with your body.
Suggestions from Nicole: Check it out! There are plenty of great resources to better explain what it is. It can be as easy as 6 steps to begin practicing.
What diets have worked for you? What are the craziest diets you've heard about or tried?
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