Are you thinking about trying a new lifestyle or diet?

Here are a few things to consider before jumping in and embracing change in your life.

First, what are your goals? If you are trying to lose weight, think about this question prior to implementing this regiment. Are you trying to lose weight or lose body fat? They are not necessarily the same. There are people that look very muscular and fit because they have a low body fat percentage and not necessarily because they weigh less than others. These individuals may not even be stronger than other people in their weight range or age group. They may simply look more defined.

Next, are your major measurements of health bad, poor, acceptable, good, or great? If you are trying to lose weight to improve on vital categories of health, your diet may help with weight loss but not with improving or maintaining significant statistics related to health and wellness. High fat diets may work for some individuals based on genetics, level of exercise, age, and current health but may actually negatively impact your HDL and LDL ratios. Also, changing your macronutrient sources to follow a routine may increase blood pressure or insulin levels.

Another consideration is who the diet routine is better suited for in the short term and the long term. Some diets such as the (diet A) may work great for one person at a particular weight and a different stage of their health journey than you but may not work for you based on your set of circumstances. This is not an indictment of any particular diet, but a criticism of all diet and lifestyle reviews that do not take into consideration other health factors that may be contributing more to what is changing. For example, if someone is losing weight or fat after a lifestyle change that is diet based only that is different from someone who changes their diet as well as incorporates changes to their behavior (sleep, whether they smoke or drink, workout frequency, etc.). It is just not the same. If you were comparing cohorts you would need to compare people who did not change anything versus those who changed their diet only, and those who did diet and exercise, etc. Otherwise it is just one person or group of people’s experiences without context.

There is a difference and you should be aware of this prior to going all-in on a particular lifestyle. Also, as much as it may annoy you, it is a good idea to let your doctor know. This way, if your health changes, the doctor can offer fully informed consultation and guidance prior to prescribing medication and/or treatment to you moving forward.