Nearly every time I open my web browser, my screen becomes filled with an alleged “weight-loss cure” or a fad diet ad that is “guaranteed to make you drop pounds fast.” After personal experiences of attempting fad diets, I have thrown in the towel. In high school, I did the Arbonne’s 30-day detox with my mom where we ate protein shakes twice a day and had one very healthy meal that did not include dairy, caffeine, alcohol, gluten, soy, artificial sweeteners, refined sugar, and vinegar. I found myself to feel better for a short while during the weeks of the challenge, but many times I also felt extremely hungry and faint. After the challenge, I did lose significant weight, but a portion of it was gained back quickly. I find that these fad diets work for a couple of weeks, and then I become bored eating on such a restricted regimen and give up. Many diet businesses like Arbonne’s are a money-making game that grabs consumer’s attention by proving to be the “most effective” or the “best results.”
Portion control is not a diet, but it is a method of healthy eating. And it’s a nutrition style that has worked for me better than any diet or weight-loss plan has.
Now that I’ve been surrounded by a lot of unhealthy, but often enticing, food options in the Pit, I have learned the power of portion control. At home, I understood this concept, but it was not until my freshman year when I was living on my own, that I really had to exercise this practice. Often I resonate with the saying, “My eyes are bigger than my stomach,” when surrounded by an overwhelming amount of choices. I’ve learned that it is extremely important to only take a small serving at a time. One reason is that tons of food is wasted on college campuses, and it is selfish and ignorant to throw away food that could go to someone who needs it. That being said, it’s also important to know yourself, more specifically, your stomach, and do not force yourself to finish everything on your plate. Portion control is such a crucial aspect of healthy, balanced eating. I stand by the motto that everything is okay in moderation. On the other hand, anything can be unhealthy in excessive amounts. I dislike the idea of cutting out entire food groups for the purpose of nutritious eating. If you like dairy, don’t stop eating it altogether. Maybe just monitor your ice cream consumption. If you love bread, keep it in your diet. But maybe try to become more aware of the amount you consume. Life is too short to not enjoy the little things, and for many people, including me, this entails eating the foods you love.
Source: https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/arbonne/jda5vxux67/US-EN_ArbonneEssentials_30-DayGuide.pdf