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Is there a difference between diet vs lifestyle?

My ugly dieting past brought out so many new thoughts and emotions. One reader commented,

The thing for me with Mark is that technically I feel like with Paleo he is still promoting a diet of sorts..how is that different than going vegan?

She was right, but since I don’t think Mark feels like he’s on a diet, I responded,

It’s just not so much a “diet” anymore for him because there are no restrictions, his body is happy and he finally feels healthy. It is a lifestyle for him. I think that’s where we all should be. Not diet; lifestyle.

After that dialogue, I thought about this more.

Diet vs Lifestyle

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Let’s break these down more.

What’s a Diet?

Diet, as a noun, means both:

a. the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.

b. a special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons.

The difference between diet vs lifestyle is, in my opinion, 100% by interpretation.

When I think diet, it’s instantly connected to food deprivation (again, due to my ugly dieting past). In this way, then, my personal definition of diet is more in alignment with the b) definition from above.

And in alignment with the b definition are these thoughts and ideas:

• fad diets
• fewer calories
• short term (something you plan to only do – or only can successfully do – for a short amount of time)
• sporadic eating habits
• the need for categorizing “unhealthy foods”
• low fat
• time frame driven (i.e. “My wedding is in 3 months and I don’t want to be bloated for it.”)
• completely cutting out various food groups, usually haphazardly

And What is Lifestyle?

First, lifestyle is actually one of A Gutsy Girl’s three pillars. And to be honest, “diet” is not even part of this pillar; it is, in fact, a stand alone pillar.

Lifestyle is, according to the dictionary, the way in which a person or group lives. This definition is in alignment with my 3rd pillar definition of lifestyle as well:

The lifestyle pillar includes movement (exercise, workouts, whatever you want to call it), stress reduction, skin and body care, and all other critical lifestyle factors that may or may not include supplements and/or medications.

So, could lifestyle include diet? Of course, since the way we live includes the foods we eat.

However, when it comes to healing the gut, I chose to keep diet separate from lifestyle because they are both major pieces to the ultimate gut healing equation, but in the equation neither diet nor lifestyle are what we traditionally think they are.

Nonetheless, here are things lifestyle (vs diet) include:

• small change, day-by-day
• inclusion of physical activity (though, remember not too much!)
• something you will work on the rest of your life
• proves as an aid to increase in overall health
• made up of a healthy diet that is created uniquely for you (not a template!)
• hard work – it’s the truth!
• a daily routine conducive for your healing and health
• something that produces a positive change in your life
• the most effective way for long-term solutions
• a longing for positive daily habits vs quick results

The Quick Fix

Everyone at some point on their gut healing journey is looking for the quick fix and fastest way to “healed.” And yes, I am included in this. It is precisely why my past was made up of diet plans upon diet plans.

Unfortunately, I’m here to tell you that it will NEVER work in the long run.

But old habits will diet hard, so let me walk you through the steps to moving from ugly dieting days plopped somewhere amidst the lifestyle pillar to the bigger picture that it’s not diet vs lifestyle but instead diet AND lifestyle.

The Best Way to Your Main Goal: healing the gut with diet AND lifestyle

First, let me illustrate something for you:

I never went on a gluten-free diet to lose weight; instead I slashed my calorie intake to super low in order to attempt “weight loss.”

And I never went on a chicken, turkey, fats, broths and bananas diet to lose weight. Instead, a diet which cut out all high fat foods (fat in general) to lose weight.

And so on.

Can you see the difference?

I was partaking in a short-term diet only in order to suppress symptoms, which brings me to step 1.

Step 1: A diet not for the long haul

Depending on your diagnosis (maybe even agonizing symptoms), the diet you choose to follow is typically less about an overall healthy lifestyle and more about symptom management, short-term goals and healing the imminent issue.

This is a very tricky step for two reasons:

1. What does that diet look like for you? Remember, different diets for gut healing aim to “fix” different conditions.
2. The words to stress here: “short term.” This is meant to be from 3 days to about 6 weeks. No more (in most cases).

Thus, step 1 should really be guided in some way, shape, or form.

Step 2: The daily basis diet

After step 1, good changes are occurring. You are feeling better. But remember, it’s still not an excuse to stay there for the long road.

Now, you must figure out the best way to “healthy eating” long term for you. The biggest difference between this step and step one is that you’re looking to add in more food. Remember that, ultimately, the most important thing for the gut microbiome is diversity.

And the good news is that once your gut heals you can do this.

It doesn’t mean you would go from step 1 to eating anything and everything. Instead, it means that you will, once again, be strategic based on the diagnosis, how your body responded during step one and any help you might be receiving along the way.

But ultimately, it’s very important that you do add in a wider variety of food.

Step 3: The long term lifestyle change

Steps 1 and 2 are truly focused on the diet pillar.

Step 3 is lifestyle, which if you remember from above, is different than the diet.

In order to have it all come together for ultimate gut healing, permanent changes in the lifestyle pillar must happen. In addition to the things I laid out above, you will need to also focus on:

• emotional health
• healthy habits outside of diet (like not smoking, reducing or cutting alcohol consumptions, etc.)
• an exercise plan that’s not too much and not too little
• healthier alternatives to skincare, personal care items, body care, etc.

Lifestyle for Healing

Remember…..gut healing is not a diet, but then again, sometimes gut healing is a diet. 

The truth is that there is no diet out there that was made for me. There is really no one diet out there made for anyone with digestive issues. And you? If you are fortunate enough to not have digestive issues….well, there is also still not likely one perfect diet out there for you either.

The only diet that has ever worked for me includes one that is completely customized for me, by me and has been designed in bits-and-pieces over the past 7+ years.

In fact, I did title it. It’s called….

A Gutsy Girl’s Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut

Remember, there will be nothing better for your healing journey than a long-term lifestyle change.

Believe me.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

1. 9 Lifestyle Things I Do Before 9am
2. 13 Lifestyle Swaps for the Gutsy Girl
3. 21 Gut Healing Lifestyle Components

Xox,
SKH