The not-diet

[Tri Girl]

see- I'm totally different. I eat a plant-based diet, so often people will ask if I'm vegan and I say yes. Mostly they're curious about what I eat (they don't think you can eat anything but raw vegetables), so I try to educate when asked. I don't openly go around boasting that I eat like a Vegan, but if it comes up I will not back away from it. I often have to ask servers at restaurants for tips about what to get on the menu (although I'm getting good at piecing meals together from various menu items).

This isn't a diet (although technically it is). I haven't lost much weight, and even though I need to, that doesn't bother me. What matters is that my cholesterol has dropped 45 points and I don't have to be on statins. And that my nails are longer and stronger than they've ever been in my life, and that I sleep so much better, and recover from hard workouts faster. Diet sure has become a 4 letter word in our society, and that's really quite a shame.

[margo49]

It's a language problem too.

I know in Hebrew the word for diet is "dee-etta" so it is a straight borrow from English. It is the word people use for a Special Temporary Eating Plan Towards a Goal.
But a food discussion on life-long (long term) plans or changes uses the word for "Nutrition". Which is much more accurate of course.

How can we distinguish in English?

[lph]

How about "No, I'm not on a diet. I just like to eat this way "

[Reesha]

I think what irks me the most is when I go out for lunch with my mother and sister (both overweight for many years now) and I order a healthier choice they sometimes look at me accusingly and ask what fad diet I was on now. They have also been known to order dessert and eat it as indulgently as possible to spite me. I think they see my choices as a critique of them, but that's their issue not mine.

[indysteel]

I think they see my choices as a critique of them, but that's their issue not mine.

That's a very healthy way to look at it.

[Tri Girl]

That's a very healthy way to look at it.

+1
It's definitely their issue!

I think a lot of times people know they are eating poorly and need to make a change so when someone is eating the way they know they SHOULD be, they get defensive (which is really quite stupid).

I will shamefully admit that when I was VERY overweight, I hated eating around thinner people who ate healthy because it was a reminder of how fat and unhealthy *I* was and that really bothered me deep down and made me feel bad about myself. They did nothing wrong and it was no fault of theirs, but their healthy choices made me feel bad about my unhealthy ones and that came across as me being judgemental (although I don't know that I was ever snarky about it or ever said anything rude to anyone about their choices). Does that make sense?

[Blueberry]

I will shamefully admit that when I was VERY overweight, I hated eating around thinner people who ate healthy because it was a reminder of how fat and unhealthy *I* was and that really bothered me deep down and made me feel bad about myself. They did nothing wrong and it was no fault of theirs, but their healthy choices made me feel bad about my unhealthy ones and that came across as me being judgemental (although I don't know that I was ever snarky about it or ever said anything rude to anyone about their choices). Does that make sense?

Yes! I think you articulated it very well.

I have a generally healthy diet, but am overweight. I feel like when I have a rare splurge (e.g., going out for ice cream on my birthday), people are judging me. They aren't. It's clearly my issue.