Diets: we can’t live with them and can’t live without them!  But, with the vast array of potential diet plans to follow, which one will benefit your body the most?  Do you choose the low fat, low protein, high protein, high carb, no carb, vegetarian or one of countless others?

Making Healthy Choices?

I was on a particular high protein eating plan for 18 months.  Yes, I actually stuck with it and lost 25 pounds in the process.  I looked great and felt great as well.  The problem with this diet was - I was not allowed to cheat outside of the ‘cheating hour’.  Even after 18 months, I still felt trapped in rules and regulations on a daily basis.  Eating out was very difficult and getting off schedule kept me on my toes trying to plan alternative meal times - not to mention finding ‘allowable’ food choices.  It also required considerable planning and prep time.  It was not very user friendly - but I was seeing results.

The kicker was when I had a routine cholesterol test run and got the word that my bad (LDL) cholesterol (which was already on the high side) had more than doubled over the past year.  My good (HDL) cholesterol had also doubled - which was good, right?  But, what to do about the bad?  I had to make a change.  Something was obviously wrong with the kinds of foods I was eating.

My husband’s cholesterol tests, on the other hand, had always come back better than average.  He ate protein 3 times a day, enjoyed brats, bacon, eggs, and just about any fatty food he wanted - with a near perfect cholesterol test - that is, until I listened to all the recommendations about low fat, low protein, more fruit and veggie diets and I decided to ‘fix’ him.  It was the responsible thing to do!

My husband also had a cholesterol test a year after I put him on a ‘healthier’ diet.  Get this.  After 40 years of close to perfect, his cholesterol nearly tripled in one year.  I was stunned.  That’s when I began my search to find out why.

Perfect for Your Friend, Poison to You

Many of us choose an eating plan that comes with the recommendation from a friend or family member.  It worked great for them.  So, it should work great for you as well, right?  Maybe not.

I found a book called, The Metabolic Typing Diet by William Wolcott and Trish Fahey.  The Metabolic Typing Diet is based on individual responses to food - how your body reacts to, breaks down and metabolizes what you eat.  The foods that might be a perfect fit for your friend, might be like poison to you.

Included in the book is a 65 question test to determine your metabolic patterns or tendencies.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I needed very little protein and more carbs.  My husband needed high protein and very few carbs.  We were both eating exactly the opposite of what we were supposed to eat - according to this diet plan.

Eat for YOU!

My husband has happily gone back to his low carb, high protein, high fat diet.  I have (happily) gone the opposite direction to high carbs, limited fat and low protein.  I cook the same meals;  he just takes most of the protein and I eat most of the carbs!  It works out great.  I also discovered that I had to be careful of which carbs I ate.  Some caused cravings and weight gain.  The good news is:  blood tests are back to normal.

Your body is designed for you and you alone.  All the patterns and needs are individual and should not be lumped into a catch all group.  By learning to eat the way your body was designed to eat, you - and your body - will be happier and healthier.