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How to Talk About Your Diet in a Positive Way?

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If you're on a diet - or if you just try to eat healthily and exercise regularly - then take a few moments to consider how you talk about it. You might think that the way you describe your diet to friends, colleagues and yourself doesn't really matter, but changing the way you talk about your diet can alter your outlook completely - and set you up for success.

Avoiding "shoulds" and "oughts"

Have you used any phrases like these in connection with your diet?

"I ought to lose weight."
"I shouldn't eat that."
"I'm not allowed to have fries, I'm on a diet."
"I should go for a jog after work."

If you talk like this, you'll feel deprived whilst dieting - you'll see your diet in terms of being "forbidden" certain foods, and you might diet because you think you "ought to" rather than because you want to. Feeling deprived and pressured into a diet you don't want won't do anything for your motivation levels, so try changing the things you say:

"I am losing weight" or "I want to lose weight"
"I'm choosing not to eat that at the moment."
"I'm not having fries today" or "I don't want fries today."
"I will go for a jog after work."

Can you see the pattern? Switching from "I should do this" to "I will do this" takes away the value judgement - you're simply making a statement of fact, not trying to bully or guilt yourself into something. And saying that "I want to..." makes it your choice rather than something forced upon you.

Avoiding "needs" and "musts"

Sometimes, we make excuses to eat things we know we'd be better off avoiding:

"I need chocolate."
"I must have some of that cake."
"I can't resist trying one."

If you say things like this, you'll feel that you can't be held responsible for your diet. You'll give in to cravings, "break" your diet at any excuse, and feel bad afterwards because you think you'll never succeed. But you don't truly need chocolate - you'll survive just fine without it! Try changing the way you talk:

"I want chocolate" or "I'm craving chocolate"
"I'm tempted by that cake."
"I'd like to try one but I can resist!"

Recognising and admitting that you're craving something, or that you're tempted, is fine. It's easy to beat a craving just by waiting it out - twenty minutes is usually long enough. And you can resist temptation: if eating a bag of chips was going to cost you $20, you'd probably resist just fine.

Do you find yourself talking about your diet in a negative way, or justifying your eating habits by the language you use? Have you come up with a great way to talk about your healthy habits in positive terms? Let us know in the comments...

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28 Comments

Lauren

This is so true.
Talking about dieting in general makes you think about it all day. Making your diet routine boosts your ability to avoid temptations.
As you guys know, psychology is a big factor in dieting, and by dealing with it the right way, you can reach better results. When we feel like we "have to do" something, like Ali mentioned above, we aren't taking responsibility for our actions.

Mark

I suppose talking in a negative was isn't a good idea about what you want to do, but bad habits do need to be replaced with good ones, self talk alone won't cut it other wise more people would be thinner.

Ali Hale

Good point, Mark. Obviously just saying "I will go for a run" isn't enough -- you do need to actually make good on that and DO IT! But it's definitely easier to take action once we're in a positive frame of mind.

MizFit

SO TRUE.

I did a video post on STOPPING MUSTurbating and it surprised me how many people lead lives restricted by shoulds and musts-----even though intellectually I realized.

Roe

I saw an interview with Jamie Lee Curtis once about "musts" and "have tos". She decided it war portraying a negative perspective of grown-up life to her children. So instead she'd say "Mommy gets to go to work now, and when I get back we'll go to the park." I like it.

"I get to make choices which affect the way I look and feel."
"I get to say no to fries, and yes to feeling light and attractive today."

staci

i've always been a firm believer in "mind over matter"; is it not the same concept of thinking of workinging out while working out and burn more calories?

Mike H.

Great post! Language is more important than we think IMHO. We have the power to choose.

Kami Gray

I like the idea of applying "musts" over "needs" in other areas of your life. When it comes to diet, I think this can work too, but I'm curious why you have to talk about your diet? I can understand if this is positive self talk. That makes sense. Others around you though don't need an explanation as to why you're eating certain things or why you aren't. That's your business. I'm a very strict (healthy) eater and I eat catered meals around other people at work. Quite often, I get questioned about my choices..."you're not having the scalloped potatoes?" or "having dessert?" Nope. I'm not. I see you are. Okay then.

I think it's weird we talk about food so much and focus on it and maybe even obsess about it. Food is fuel to me and I don't find it that particularly interesting. I do have a question for the last nosy coworker who couldn't believe I wasn't trying one of the white chocolate brownies, "What's up with exposing so much of your décolletage (chest) at work?" That I was curious about!

http://blog.thelistbykamigray.com/

israel

I have in the past used the should, can't, need, etc. Now that I think about it I have naturally and gradually taken on the more affirmative am and will.

Very good post that makes you think.

Kami Gray

Lilbet

Isn't it true that if we speak this way about any aspect of our lives that we find more success.

Excellent topic, very well put!

musajen

What a great reminder! Awesome post. Reminds me of this quote:

"Don't Should on Yourself."

SCal

Oh no I just should all over the place!

Pat W

I know for me that I've used 'can't' a lot when I'm counting calories and watching my weight. I've also mentioned to others that I was watching my weight which is a mistake. When someone knows I'm watching my weight, they monitor everything I eat (as if they know what's best for me!) I also know that when I'm 'watching my weight' that I tend to think about food a lot of the time. I'd like to have a relaxed attitude toward food and use it as fuel and still lose then maintain a healthy weight.

Alan

Avoid saying 'I'm on a diet'.

Say 'I have changed my diet' - and make it a permanent change

Blake

I'm always trying to stay positive when i talk about my eating habits and my exercise habits. I think it's important to always stay positive with the healthy changes we try to make in our lives.

nodietneeded

Nicely said. I also believe that if you choose to do something, you will hold yourself more accountable for your actions. 'Need', 'should', 'must' can be easily followed by a third party 'but'. However, if you choose to do something and you don't, you are pretty much alone in the 'guilty' list.

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