RISMEDIA, November 12, 2009—Knowing who you are is the most important information you can have when it comes to losing weight, eating healthy, and changing your lifestyle—for life. What’s Your Diet Type? by Heather K. Jones, R.D, Mary Miscisin M.S. and Ed Redard, M.D., reveals how to find the best diet that fits your lifestyle in order to effectively lose weight and actually keep it off. Here, a Q & A with dieting expert Mary Miscisin sheds light on several burning questions on the minds of dieters.
Why do so many people have difficulty losing weight and keeping it off? What most people don’t realize is that dieting is not just a matter of willpower. What we found is how successful a person is on a diet is directly related to their personality type or what we call their “Diet Type.”
How is personality type directly related to dieting success? We each have our own set of unique personality characteristics that make up who we are. Some of these characteristics we’re born with, others come as a result of our upbringing and life circumstances. For example, one person may tend to be very disciplined and organized, while another might be free-spirited and spontaneous. In our research, we found that personality characteristics are directly related to the ability to lose weight and keep it off.
Where did you come up with the idea to link personality with dieting? Over a million people each year take personality tests to help them find the right job or career match, it is used online to help find the right love match, we decided to use this proven method to help women find the right diet approach.
You conducted your own research on personality type and weight loss. What was it and what did you find? Besides actual case studies, ten years of patient research from Dr. Redard, and focus groups, we created an online survey and collected over 8,000 responses. The results were astounding. We found distinct patterns correlating personality type to diet success.
So how does your personality affect your ability to lose weight? In our research, we identified four different personality Diet Types: The Player, the Feeler, the Planner, and the Thinker. I’ll give you an example of one of the most common – the Planner. The Planner is the type of woman who is ultra responsible. She’s the first person in the office in the morning and the last to leave at night. Her house is spotless, her kids are well-behaved, and her schedule is organized. Now, of course this personality type definitely has its benefits – Planners are often accomplished, both in their careers and personal lives. However, the lifestyle of a Planner can also sabotage her diet because she’s too busy to exercise and make healthy diet choices.
Can people be a combination of diet types? Yes. We all have each of the Diet Types in us to varying degrees. It is most common to relate to one of them the strongest. However, some women find that they are a combination of two types, others relate strongly to 3 of them and on occasion a woman will struggle with all four equally. We provide information in the book so you know what to do for your unique combination.
In your book, you mention that different personality types are motivated to lose weight for different reasons. What are they?
Feeler: Feel better about herself, improve her self esteem, feel good emotionally and physically.
Thinker: Decrease health risk factors like lower blood pressure, cholesterol.
Player: More energy, look fantastic, participate in more activities.
Planner: Better health, fit into her clothes again, it’s the right thing to do.
What are some things to look for in a diet program for each type?
Feeler: Support from others; sharing feelings, issues and ideas; journaling; self-development – finding my path/purpose; understanding that self-love is not selfish.
Thinker: Information and resources regarding diet and exercise from competent sources so I can study independently.
Player: Quick results; impulse control; flexibility, competition, a variety of physical activities; easy ways to grab a healthy bite to eat.
Planner: Preparing ahead; having a plan and sticking to it; routines for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, being accountable.
How can we tell whether a diet approach is right for us? If you find that you are “fighting yourself” you are not on track. You know a diet approach is right for you when you forget to stress about it. Start now to figure out what you are going to do with the extra time you used to spend worrying about your weight and have fun following your personality to the weight you love.
For more information, visit www.MyDietType.com.
