Are You Faux Dieting?

Are You Faux Dieting?
If you look anywhere it seems these days, there's a revolt
of "faux". Faux fur. Faux Louis Vuitton. Faux paint
treatments. Faux Monet. Well, technically I suppose that's
a poster, but you get the idea. With so many alternatives
to the real deal, it's unfortunately becoming second nature
to accept second best.

What about faux dieting? Are you guilty? Quiz yourself on
the following and see if you can give yourself a truthful
"yes" (hey, without crossing your fingers!)

Ask yourself:

1) I've got a diet strategy for family gatherings rather
than playing it by ear (or urge).

2) I've never saved calories or carbs from meals so I can
drink alcohol later.

3) I don't confuse 15 carbs from high nutrient veggies
with 15 carbs from sugar free chocolate candies.

4) I've never pretended 400 calories of fried chicken was
the same as 400 calories of broiled chicken & veggies.

5) I always make a whole hearted full time 100%
commitment to my weight loss plan.

Ahem, so how did you do? How quick are you to forgive
yourself for a relapse? Nobody is suggesting we flagellate
ourselves for a cheat -- planned or otherwise. But in this
era of pop psychologists who diagnose 15 year problem
marriages in 15 minute TV segments, we're all too quick to
gloss it over.

"Well, I tried." Yep, you tried. You've been trying for
years, what else is new? When are you going to suck it up
and finally do it? If you can't be honest with yourself,
who can you be honest with? Think about it.

It boggles the mind to hear the excuses we give ourselves
for remaining fat and undisciplined. What's even scarier
is that we're believing it! Or do we? Try these on for
size:

"I was losing too quickly and experts recommend only losing
1 or 2 pounds a week so we don't deprive ourselves of
nutrients."

Oh really? So your splurge was on organic fresh spinach
salad with organic free range chicken? Yeah, didn't think
so.

"I really like this low carb thing, but I want to keep my
calories up so I started having faux cheesecake or chicken
wings with bleu cheese dressing."

Oh, please spare us. Did you also order some celery sticks
for the dressing so you could faux the vaguest semblance of
nutrition in that scenario? I'd have to say one of the
strangest "starvation mode" stories I've ever heard was
from a mom who ate the rest of her kid's Klondike ice cream
sandwich because she felt her calories were too low that
day. And, uh, yes, that mom is still "trying" to lose.
Stay tuned.

"I want to be a good example for my daughter (son)."

Good! You can start by quit finishing off their left over
Kraft macaroni & cheese, buying trans fat soaked Cup of
Soup, sneaking mashed potatoes and gravy off their plate
when they aren't looking or announcing "Just one won't
hurt," as you order a triple burger super combo on the way
home from soccer practice. With a diet soda, of course.

Now, what exactly about "dieting" is a bad example?

What's wrong with showing your kids some self restraint and
making healthy choices? If you're a low carber, there's no
law lurking in the universe that you must eat carbs.
Serving yourself a plate of grilled salmon, mixed greens
salad and steamed broccoli florets with ginger dressing is
nothing to be ashamed of.

"My grandmother will freak out for sure if I don't eat
(take your pick) the 100 year old family recipe potato
salad, Aunt Sarah's chocolate cake, my sister's famous
garlic cheese bread ... at the family picnic this weekend."

The final nail in the coffin may be, "And your sister is
going through a divorce so be sure you don't upset her."

Ask your grandmother if she's going to pay for your insulin
when you develop obesity induced diabetes. Hopefully she
can explain to your kids why you couldn't get life
insurance with a BMI of 43 and died prematurely due to
heart disease. Obesity related, of course.

When are we going to quit lying to ourselves? Excuse me,
fauxing?

"I don't want my daughter to develop an eating disorder by
watching me diet."

A candidate for the Mom Hall of Fame! Odd they have no
qualms about parking their kids in the waiting room of a
bariatric surgeon while they get a Lapband consultation.
Or sitting patiently at the pharmacy while mom picks her
diet pills. Or watch them count calories, fat grams or
points with military precision at every family meal (don't
forget to drag out the food scale).

If you're serious about weight loss, do it. But don't make
excuses. Quit fauxing.

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Heidi Diaz is the owner of popular Kimkins.com weight loss
website and an expert in the low carb lifestyle.
http://www.kimkins.com