Calorie Shifting - A Good Idea?

In this day and age, the majority of Americans are on (or have been on) a diet.  Our society has lost focus on prevention of obesity and we must rely on the treatment instead.  Calorie-cutting has been a way of life for a lot of people recently.  Today's blog is going to address the issue of "calorie shifting" or as many know it, "cheat day".  There are mixed reviews on the topic of calorie shifting.  Some experts feel that a "cheat day" may lead to overindulging and will break the cycle of healthy eating while others agree that a day to enjoy some of the less healthier foods you used to eat will help keep you on track and reduce the tight structure of a diet.  

In order for weight loss to a permanent solution, you must first eliminate the word "diet" from your vocabulary.  Just saying the word "diet" promotes negative connotations.  Most people assume they have to eat just vegetables/salad and drink water and that's all they can have.  Say the word "diet" in a crowded room and see how many people walk away from you.  Or better yet, see how many people flock to you to tell you horror stories on their past experiences with dieting.  Dieting has a temporary status attached to it.  Most people will tell you how many diets they have been on in their lifetime and how they always gained the weight right back.  Instead, think about making a lifestyle change.  A permanent lifestyle change.  Something that will last and will keep you healthy for the rest of your life.

Now let's talk about calorie shifting or having a "cheat day" built into your new lifestyle change.  Restricting your calorie intake is difficult enough by itself.  Preventing yourself from having those foods you used to enjoy is difficult to maintain.  That's where calorie shifting comes into play.  Totally denying yourself of certain foods/drinks makes the brain think about those items more often.  If they are always on your mind, you are more likely to "fall off the wagon" and gorge on those foods.  But what if you allow yourself a portion of your calorie intake to include some of those foods?  Your mind (and taste buds) will be satisfied and you will be more likely to continue with your newly found, healthy choices.  For some, you may even find that food to be "gross" after changing to healthier foods.  However, there is a dark side to calorie shifting.  You must take into consideration your personality and behavior traits.  If you are the type of person who tends to be a little more obsessive, calorie shifting might not be the way to go.  

So what's the best thing to do?  First of all, you will need to change your eating habits and clean out your nutrition plan significantly in the first 30-60 days.  That means you will need to stay away from those "cheat" foods.  Next you should take into consideration whether calorie shifting is the way to go for your behavior traits.  Don't try to tackle weight loss on your own.  Seek out the advice of weight loss professionals.  And, by "professionals", I don't mean people who have yo-yo dieted their way through life.  Seek out certified/degreed nutrition specialists for advice and guidance through your weight loss journey.  There's more to it than just calorie restriction.

Final thoughts....this blog may have been a little wishy-washy in terms of what we think about calorie shifting but just keep in mind that you need to make these permanent lifestyle changes in order for weight loss to be successful.  Surround yourself with healthy people and healthy habits and you will reap the benefits in the long run.