What's your diet type?

by Cathy Winston (Subscribe to Cathy Winston's posts)
Mar 7th 2010

Categories: Diet & weight loss, Healthy eating, Diet du jour

If you've ever said 'diets don't work for me', you could be closer to the truth than you realise. Admittedly, if you're snacking on cake during the afternoon, that could have something to do with it, but it could also be that you've chosen the wrong plan for your personality.

But three health experts - This Morning resident GP Dr Chris Steele, nutritionist and psychotherapist Mary Strugar and nutritionist Dr Chris Fenn - have developed nine separate 'Eater types' as well as a questionnaire to establish which you are and advice on the perfect diet for each personality.
'One size doesn't fit all,' says Mary Strugar. 'Personal habits play a key role, which is why not all weight loss products and plans work for everyone. We've been led to believe that the magic formula for losing weight is out there somewhere, which is why fad diets have such a strong appeal.'

The types include the most common, the Auto Eater, who thinks they eat healthily but actually scoffs more than they realise by not paying attention to their food, as well as the second place Weekend Treater, who sticks religiously to a diet from Monday to Friday then undoes their good work by relaxing on Saturdays and Sunday.

And there's also the Hungry Dieter, who is so strict, they can't help giving in to temptation, as well as the bread and pasta-loving Carb Craver, ready meal fan Convenience Consumer and Disorganised Eater, who's so busy they're either skipping meals or grabbing quick fixes.

Comments (10)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mal 12-3-2010

My wife is a very healthy eater, however she does struggle to keep her weight under control, proving that is not what you eat so much as how much. She started the Anna Richardson Body Blitz Diet just 12 days ago and has lost 10 lbs ( a bit more than expected) and looks great. I have more time that she does so I prepare the food, working exactly to the menu from the book She has gone without the glass of wine..as recommended..but according to research in the US it's not the wine so much as the soft and fizzy drinks that put the weight on. We will see..off skiing soon and the odd glass here and there is mandatory.. Well worth the effort though.

whp 12-3-2010

Why the heck would the women in the headline photo be on a diet? She's pretty much underweight as it is. Thanks aol for making us all feel fat and promoting unhealthy body images

Mal 12-3-2010

We men feel the same when we see adds of the perfect male physique that many of you girls drool over. The fact is there's been a lot of effort and dedication applied to achieve that physical look..it's am individual thing though..if you feel happy with the way you are, why change anything. Anything is achievable, but you will only get out what you put in.

susan tolhurst 12-3-2010

I think you are right they always use models who do not need to lose weight in the first place, so you are on a downer before you start.

neetdt 12-3-2010

Just a silly article that ultimately leads to an advertisement for some 'miracle' weight loss pills.

Mal 12-3-2010

There' no such thing as a miracle pill for weight loss, or anything else for that matter. Most diet pills will have you going to the loo a lot,( if you can get there in time). What works for one won't necessarily work for another. These adds are designed to separate us from our money, none will give guarantees of a good result. Sensible diet and a little exercise is more likely to work.

Chris 12-3-2010

I was lucky enough to never have been overweight in my life. That all ended after the birth of my second child. I got down to 20 pounds over my normal weight but no matter what I did I couldn't lose the rest. I didn't know if was age catching up with me or if somehow my metabolism changed. Whatever the reason, nothing was working. I tried all the bogus "diet" pills that we see all over the internet, but are just scams. All I ever lost with that stuff was money. One of my friends, knowing what I was going through, told me that she had been losing weight using a special plan that she found at this web site (Http://budurl.com/FatLoss4You) It laid out the facts in a way I never saw before and had easy to follow meal plans and diets. Not only have I lost the weight and kept it off but I'm leading a healthier lifestyle, mostly from the knowledge I gained from this amazing program

Amybut1 12-3-2010

And hear I thought the best way to loose weight and maintain it was my eating in moderation! I've always been overweight right from a teenager, I have tried numerous "faddy diets" and surprise surprise no one them worked because in real life you can't restrict yourself to it forever. I am a person who loves food but over the past two years I have managed to shed almost three stone and here's the kicker I have managed to maintain it!

How you all ask?!!

It's not that difficult. Cut the crap out, make sure you get your five a day and exercise. But don't feel guilty if you do fancy a bar of chocolate ever now and then! Just try not to have two or three bars a day!

Faddy diets don't work in the long run!

vicki 12-3-2010

Hi Amy,
As a clinical dietitian I can honestly say I would not have put that any better myself! :-)

Frank 15-3-2010

I hate all these diet advice articles. Eat 4 tablespoons of museli for breakfast? No, how about a full bowl of choco pops, that fills me up.
Lunch, those silly cereal bars that contain 99 calories, no good for me,
dinner should be steamed fish and half a potato, Im vegetatrian and because of that I eat a wide variety of food from all over the world to give anything a go.
Im still 16 stone doorman, but fat weight and actual weight are 2 different things. Also, water content has an effect too. You should be around 40% water.