Diets telling you to cut carbs and sugar completely. Trendy intermittent fasting. Rigid meal plans eliminating entire food groups.
We’ve all tried extreme plans seeking quick results. But what if balance was the real secret all along?
Turns out an ancient Greek philosopher discovered the ideal diet almost 2500 years ago. His counterintuitive idea – the Golden Mean – could be the sanest nutrition advice ever.
What is Aristotle’s Golden Mean?
Aristotle was obsessed with balance. He believed virtue lay between the extremes of excess and deficiency.
Take courage. Recklessness is excess. Cowardice a deficiency. The mean? Measured bravery.
Aristotle said excellence isn’t an extreme. It’s finding the sweet spot – the Golden Mean – between too much and too little.
The Genius of the Golden Mean for Dieting
We all know yo-yo dieting doesn’t work. Severely restricting calories backfires. When we inevitably binge, the weight piles back on.
Aristotle’s Golden Mean is a middle way. You don’t need to fully deprive yourself. Just aim to eat fewer treats and more greens.
Finding the Golden Mean requires self-awareness. What are your weaknesses? Don’t ban everything tempting – just dial back bit by bit.
4 Golden Rules for Finding Your Nutrition Sweet Spot
Follow these tips to find your personal Golden Mean:
- Don’t totally deny cravings – have a small treat.
- Gradually cut back on junk to avoid shocking your system.
- Pick one habit, like reducing soda, rather than overhaul everything.
- Don’t beat yourself up! Change takes time. Focus on progress.
Benefits of the Balanced Golden Mean Diet
Unlike extreme plans, Aristotle’s method lets you:
- Indulge moderately without guilt
- Make lasting changes through subtle shifts
- Only tackle what you can handle
- See slip-ups as learning experiences
Who knew an ancient Greek philosopher held the secret to sustainable weight loss all along?
Achieve Health Goals the Balanced Way
Finding your Golden Mean takes experimentation. But sticking with it leads to balanced nutrition without deprivation.
Next time you’re tempted by extreme dieting, remember Aristotle’s wise advice. Moderation and consistency are the real keys to fitness and health.
So put down the grapefruit diet and intermittent fasting plan. Aristotle has a 2400 year head start on nutritious living worth listening to.
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