Counting Drops, Not Donuts

 THE DIETS I HAVE LOVED

For many, if not most people, we meander (if not dwell) at various levels of health and fitness throughout our lives. A visual indicator of this is the body weight in which we carry at any given time. Our closet, with my self-imposed size descriptors (“Big Clothes”, “Regular Clothes”, and “Successful Diet Clothes”), is a testament to this ‘present-moment weight reality (something women universally understand). But there comes a moment (or several) when the true ‘scale don’t lie’ reality or unexpected health crisis smacks you in the face and elicits the “OMG, I’ve got to do something!” reaction. It is then we begin to focus on the latest diet craze. For me, this happened a number of times over the decades of my life (and a few ‘attention-getting’ times) for Steve. I thought it might be fun (or perhaps I should say, “enlightening “ to revisit some of those food plans that I/we have enthusiastically embraced through the years ..at least for awhile.

THE 1980’s: WILLPOWER, WEIRD RULES, AND GRAPEFRUIT

This was the era of discipline, denial and odd food pairings.

The Grapefruit Diet - If you ate grapefruit, fat would apparently panic and flee. I remember standing at the kitchen counter with a serrated spoon, convincing myself the bitterness was the sound of the fat cells surrendering.

The Cabbage Soup Diet - Because surely soup could fix everything. “This diet worked. Not because I ate less, but because no one wanted to sit near me.”

Richard Simmons 'Deal-A-Meal' - Color-coded portions and relentless cheer. Yes, I followed the cards, I followed the workouts and I ate the " red card " anyway.. all with enthusiastic 'jazz hands'.

Tone of the decade: If you're hungry, you're doing it right.

THE 1990'S: LOW-FAT, LOW JOY

Fat became the villain. Sugar snuck in unnoticed.

Weight-Watchers (points era) - Portion control with math. "I didn't eat food. I managed a spreadsheet. Somewhere between zero-point vegetables and a 12 point muffin, I lost perspective." Though I clearly deserved a "Lifetime Membership" for the multiple times I joined and gave it the 'old college try' once again.

South Beach Diet - Low-carb but polite about it. " South Beach - the diet that made me suspicious of bread but confident in shrimp." Truly, it was low carb with a side of coastal superiority.

Jenny Craig/Nutrisystem - Prepackaged reassurance. Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem were our pre-measured hope delivered in a box. Yes, microwavable portion control in under 5 minutes with the coveted and colorful arsenal of stuffed Nutri-Bears..proof of compliance and behavior reinforcement..which now reside in a Goodwill Donation Box somewhere.

Tone of the decade: Fat is bad. Pasta is good. Dessert is fat-free (somehow).

EARLY 2000'S: CARBS ARE THE ENEMY

The pendulum swung hard.

Atkins Diet - Steak, eggs and shock. (And my first gallbladder attack.)

Sugar Busters! - Sugar was the real villain.

The G.I. Diet -  Glycemic Index Enters the chat.

Tone of the decade: Bread cannot be trusted.

2010's: LIFESTYLE, WELLNESS AND IDENTITY

Diets become personal philosophies.

Paleo - Eat like a caveman with a grocery store.

Mediterranean Diet - Calm, reasonable, smug.

Intermittent Fasting - Eat...but not now.

Tone of the decade: This isn't a diet. It's how I live now.

2020's: DATA, DROPS, AND PERSONALIZATION

Where we are now.

Noom - Psychology + color coding.

Low Inflammatory Diets - Gentle, medical, individualized.

GLP-1 Assisted Plans - Medical support enters mainstream.

Hydration-Focused Plans -  Counting Drops & Guzzling Water

Tone of the decade: Maybe the problem isn't willpower.

" STRIP AWAY THE CABBAGE, THE CARDS & THE CAVEMAN"

When I look back at all of these diets, I don't actually see failure. I see hope. I see a woman (couple) who kept believing the next system might quiet the noise, organize the chaos, or finally make peace within our closet. Every decade promised certainty. Eat this. Don't eat that. Count this. Fear that. Sweat more. Want less. And I followed. Not because I lacked discipline - but because I believed discipline was the answer. What I'm beginning to wonder now is whether the problem was never the willpower. Maybe it was the belief that the next plan would fix something deeper. And maybe..just maybe..this time we're not chasing a diet. We're chasing understanding. And understanding feels very different from willpower. 🍽

In my next post, I'll tell you how our new food plan began..with two "loading days" that made absolutely no sense. 👀

SjoDry and Focused