Tipping the Scales: Four Different Diet Personalities

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Our personality affects everything about us—the people we’re attracted to, the friends we choose, the clothes we love. What’s less well known is that our personality also determines why some diet approaches work for us, while others fail. So don’t blame your metabolism, your genetics, or your love of pasta. You simply can’t succeed at a specific method of weight loss if your personality isn’t in sync with it.

My book, What’s Your Diet Type?, reveals that knowing who you are is the most important information you can have when it comes to losing weight—permanently. And while you can’t change your personality, you can change your weight-loss strategy.

The Diet Planner

I take my responsibilities seriously
I’m organized and hard working

Sound like you? Then you must be a Diet Planner! The Diet Planner relies on rules to guide her life. When it comes to her health, she’s organized and thrives on weight-loss plans that offer structure. Because a Diet Planner takes her responsibilities seriously, when life throws her a curveball, she neglects her own health needs so she can get everything else done. Stressed, she starts eating out of character and is transformed from a sensible dieter to an eat-anything-for-comfort gorger.

The solution: Keep weight-management goals a top priority and develop an organized approach: For example, the Diet Planner can keep a list of the calories she consumes each day.

The Diet Player

I seek fun, variety, and excitement
I am resourceful

If this rings any bells, chances are you’re a Diet Player. Flexible and adaptable, the Diet Player loves living in the moment. As for losing weight and changing her eating habits, she values her freedom and flexibility above everything else. She doesn’t like to be burdened by strict diet rules and regulations.

The solution: The Diet Player needs to develop strategies that she can switch to at her whim, whether that’s planning healthy snacks, eating several small meals or trying exotic, healthy foods.

The Diet Feeler

I like to learn about personal growth and development
Harmonious relationships are very important to me

The Diet Feeler excels at losing weight when her efforts focus on self-expression, and especially when she gets encouragement along the way. Diet Feelers can get overwhelmed by the ups and downs of friends’ lives, leaving no time or energy for themselves. They will avoid conflict just to feel like part of a group. For instance, if everyone is sharing a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, a Diet Feeler will instinctively want to have a piece, too, even if she’s not hungry, and even if pumpkin pie isn’t her favorite dessert.

The solution: Make a list of all the activities—writing, being with friends, walking the dog—that are more nurturing than excessive eating.

The Diet Thinker

I seek knowledge
I enjoy finding new ways of doing things

To succeed, the Diet Thinker must use her keen intelligence. She needs understanding and information to succeed at her weight-loss and fitness goals. When a Diet Thinker decides to lose weight, she’ll do what she does best. She’ll think about it and research it—sometimes for hours, days, and even months. This means … procrastinating.

The solution: Research is great, but the Diet Planner should learn to “just do it.” Automatically exercise every morning. Don’t wait to develop the perfect thirty-day meal plan. Use technology to make exercise more interesting: hand-held body fat analyzers, heart rate monitors, twenty-four-hour calorie expenditure monitors.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.