Unhealthy dieting vs healthy eating - how do you get the right balance?

I am actually getting a bit worried when I look at other people's recommended diets because a lot seem to be a bit unhealthy.

I really do not want to cause offence to anyone who has found a diet that works for them, or who are sticking to their diet really well. Good for you, and I wish you the best of luck.

Its just that I have read and read and read about healthy eating, and what diet to follow in order to avoid illnesses and conditions like Osteoporosis in later life.

For example, without wanting to cause offence to people on the Atkins diet, but it seems dangerous to restrict your body from carbohydrates. It is nature's body fuel, and provides natural fibre which is apparantly essential for your digestive system.

And over-consumption of protein (more than 150grams a day) can place a massive strain on the kidneys. (The body's tissues do not use the nitrogen part of protein and hence it is excreted by the kidneys.)

Alternatively, restricting your diet to less than 1200 cals is also meant to be equally damaging, especially if you plan to do it over the long term.

I have read that it is unhealthy to lose more than 2lb a week but a lot of people seem to be managing it on here. Is it safe to lose more than this?? Am I reading the wrong kind of material? I tend to read books on nutrition, or healthy eating books rather than dieting books.

I have used tools online which guide me on how much I should be eating of the food groups in order to stay healthy. I had realised that I wasnt getting enough calcium so I have added a glass of milk into my diet.

here is the address for the tools if anyone else wants to improve their diet. Copy and paste it and have a go on the Daily Recommendation Calculator.
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/health/healthcalculator/start

What does everyone else think? Is your priority losing weight fast or maintaining a healthy lifestyle? Do you manage to do both? If so do you have any tips for this!!!!

love a very confused Juno.

Hi Juno. It is most definitely something that is very confusing, and I too worry about some of those dieters out there. Especially as women, we need to keep that calcium intake up. Don't want to be the skinny frail woman who breaks when you touch her.

And, without intending offense, I too think the Atkins plan has desirable outcome, but the effects of such a poorly balanced diet can be devastating. I simply wasn't up for the risk of such a plan.

But, losing more than two pounds each week can be possible if your diet remains healthy. I will give the benefit of the doubt that people losing more aren't simply starving themselves. If you keep your nutrition values up, caloric counts low, and your activity level high, it is definitely possible to spark some substantial losses. But again, keeping a HEALTHY balance is the key. Also, keep in mind, sodium causes water retention (think: how bloated you feel after a good chinese meal, which can be EXTREMELY high in sodium), and most healthy dieters (because of processed food elimination) tend to greatly reduce their sodium intake. So, a lot of weight lost could be water.

Hi Juno, I understand what you're saying, but I think you have to weigh up which is worse - eating what is currently considered outside the healthy norm, or being overweight. I'm doing Slim Fast, which many would consider to be include too much processed food, but it's helped me lose 2 stone so far, so I won't be switching to anything else anytime soon! Research comes up with new conclusions on healthy eating all the time - what doesn't change is the fact that being overweight is bad for our health. The fact that everyone's here and trying to address their weight problems can only be a good thing.

Hi All,
I have lost the same 50 pounds over and over again for years! Over the last year, this is the first time that I have maintained and continued to lose the weight in a way that does not seem restrictive. The weight loss has been very slow. I have lost 50 pounds in that year and I still have 40 to 45 to go. What was really frustrating was, at first no one could even tell I was losing weight unless they had not seen me in a while!
Now having settled into Weight Watchers, I eat anything I want for the most part with portion control, but I weight myself everyday. Sometimes it's not pretty. But I don't feel weak, deprived or retricted. I hate that diet feeling of being weak and having no energy. That always caused me to give up before. Being a mom and working full-time, I needed my energy. I want to eat carbs once in a while, I want dairy once in a while and I want sugar once in a while. I have friends who are doing great on Atkins and they definitely lost weight more quickly than I did at first. But I think overall, I feel better. I think you have to decide if your body can deal with it and weather this is a diet or lifestyle change. For me, it has to be a lifestyle change. I just carry too much extra weight if I'm not careful. I still have a long road to travel.

Hi everyone,
I think that if you actually read about the Atkins diet you'll see that it is actually a very healthy eating style.
Far too many people look at the induction period and think that's all there is to it.
That isn't, by far, all there is to it.
I think that if you take a look at my journal and see what I'm eating you'll see that instead of getting my carbs with breads and pasta, I'm getting it through vegetables.
I never feel weak or tired - I am always full of energy and I'm eating more than I used to and losing weight.
I think that alone is a pretty good endorsement.
I am interested in losing weight but more than that, I want to be healthy.
After researching several diets and speaking to both my physician and a friend that's a dietician, I decided on Atkins.
I'm seeing my physician regularly and having blood work done once a month.

Hi guys, thanks for such informative responses.

I agree with all of you really. I think I have already lost more than 2 lbs this week, and that is because I have upped the exercise a lot. I dont feel like I am being unhealthy as a result of it. Im still getting the necessary nutrients each day. So it should be safe!

Lucybell, i agree I think a diet should be a lifestyle change rather than a temporary fad in order for it to work. Before I started this diet I lived on junk food, and i have completely revitalised my diet, and I hope to keep it like this forever, but with more chocolate involved in the future!

Atriel, I'm so glad that you include vegetables in your diet its worrying because some people dont each such a healthy diet as that. Atkins also doesnt appeal to me because I could never give up bread, but I am really glad it is working so well for you. I hope everyone else following the diet can use your food plans as a good example to follow.

I was browsing a few more people's tips for weight loss and I came across a few people promoting anorexia in their journals. It is only a bare minimum but I kind of feel something should be done to prevent this. Although its such a delicate situation it may be best not to interfere in case things are made worse.

Im just rambling now, thanks again for all of your posts. xxx

I think that before commenting on a diet and what you think it might be about you should read the book by the original author, not comment on it based on articles you have read "about" the diet. Read the book and decide for yourself. Get the facts first-hand.

FYI, on Induction of atkins you are supposed to get most of your carbs from vegetables. Just because people don't doesn't mean that it is the way the diet is designed. As you increase carbs you are supposed to increase vegetables first. On the Lifetime Maintenance phase you actually eat whole grains and fruit too.

I had my reservations about Atkins when my naturopath recommended it to me, but I read the book and it makes SO MUCH SENSE. I also have read some of the studies referenced in the book. I know 2 very close people to me that have gotten off all their medications for thyroid, lupus, high cholesterol and diabetes by going on Atkins. Don't pass judgement if you don't have the FACTS.

I say this with all due respect.

On another note, though I am concerned about people promoting "fasting" plans as that only slows your metabolism. It is a very hard subject to approach, though because anorexia is a mental condition as well as a physical condition.