3 Problems With Diet Plans

When a person comes to want to deal with their eating or weight, a simple solution seems to be a ready-made plan – when, what and how much to eat. But why does it actually solve nothing?

And it must be added that today, in the age of artificial intelligence, the best plans are already generated by AI. So, before spending money on a ready-made plan, it's better to ask an AI and try it out to see if this is even a solution for you. At the end of the article, look for how to ask it, what to write, it might be useful.

But it could also be that the problems mentioned here will be confirmed. Most likely, problems will be confirmed. Because maybe these plans are not a solution at the root, but a way for some to shirk responsibility?

The Deceptive Solution

There is such a thing as research with people and their eating habits. Studies are conducted by giving groups of people food and then observing the outcome – whether in health or behavior, or otherwise. This time, not about the outcome itself, but about the process itself. In a good study, people are given pre-prepared food that meets the study conditions. And this food is always good and genuinely tasty. Because everyone is interested in people eating it.

But the biggest and actually the only complaint from participants is – it got boring. Not that it tastes bad, not that it makes them feel bad, but it got boring. And here a very important human need is expressed – freedom of choice. No matter how good this prepared food is, control and freedom of choice over the process are more important.

Many people spend a lot of time looking for their ideal – trying different plans, calculators, recipes. And it always ends with nothing. And that's the boredom, that you want your own, you want to contribute at least something from yourself. But plans foresee specific rules and do not teach this flexibility.

And many think, even have said – give me the ideal plan and everything will happen. Then that's either an excuse for doing nothing with the thought "no one can give me that plan," or futile hopes and efforts, searching for something that doesn't exist and won't work.

And a good example of this is ready-meal services, which sound so good on paper – don't think and we'll deliver exactly as much food as you need. And a well-known experience is that people eat for a few weeks and then start to "float" or get bored, start not liking it, want their own choices. I know dozens of people who can afford this, have started, but have also stopped just as quickly.

Because a human is definitely not a robot, and we are not farm animals who eat what they are given. We know that there are choices, we have memories and desires. And these nutrition plans, no matter how perfect, cannot fulfill them.

But try the AI solution – that could be the closest to a perfect solution and free of charge.

A Command from Above

At the same time, nutrition plans are being tried to be sold to you by virtually every trainer and specialist. And, perhaps, that's why you're looking for a solution there, because it's so widely used.

But I would call it an unfinished job, even a sloppy one and a shirking of responsibility on the part of these specialists and trainers. Why?

Because you see – you're given a plan (good if it's individual, we already know that they are mostly copy-paste and what works for everyone...) and you follow it. If you don't follow it, you're to blame – you're lazy, unmotivated, you lack willpower, desire, discipline.

But what if we looked at it from the other side – that these plans are such that they simply don't work with human nature, with what is truly needed. And it's easy to blame everyone else, not foreseeing your own responsibility. Or, here's my ideal plan, worship it. It doesn't work? Well, you're lazy and unmotivated.

And we see that in both the fitness and health industries, people like to blame human laziness and lack of motivation for everything. But it is so obvious that no one has taken into account human humanity, and that is why it fails. Or, in reality, trainers, specialists and dietitians themselves should think of other strategies, instead of doing what is most convenient for them, and then blaming people for not doing it.

A person is not to blame if they are given impossible tasks. Healthy eating is made into something unattainable and complicated, even though it is not.

They are simply burdensome

The only people who really need to follow a strict plan and weigh everything are athletes who need to "make" weight – in combat sports for weighing and in bodybuilding. And even they do it for a short time.

And in bodybuilding, it's so popular after these competitions to severely cut back and gain back at least a few kg within a few days.

And paradoxically, many people actually participate in such competitions once, go through this whole cycle, suffer, get the "ideal" body, cut back, gain the weight back, and later basically start selling this same approach as a weight loss solution. Knowing full well that for them it was short-term, ending with a cut back.

And hey – what do all aggressive diets end with? Who are we kidding here?

The average person lives a real life – with work, children, holidays, responsibilities and an imperfect life. Yes, for a few weeks you can pull yourself together and weigh and calculate everything, but it will end, because it's simply too difficult. And no, the healthiest and slimmest people don't weigh every gram, quite the opposite – they think much less about the small things, focusing on the big picture.

And both he and you need a simpler solution. To be able to fit it into everyday and imperfect life.

And if someone dares to accuse you of not being able to follow their plan and that it's difficult for you – you don't need such a person or advisor. He is not good, he just shifts all responsibility to you.

What is the solution?

It's a little understanding of how satiety and hunger work, what each food group affects, and how to combine them to achieve your results.

And specific products, sequence, times, and occasions are secondary, because everyone likes something different.

One likes chicken, another fish, another cottage cheese.
One likes rice, another pasta, another potatoes.
One likes broccoli, another cucumbers, another tomatoes.
One with sour cream, another with oil, another with mayonnaise.
One with soy sauce, another with vinegar, another with mustard.
One likes apples, another bananas, another tangerines.
One twice, another four times a day.
One more in the morning, another in the evening.
One... and so on indefinitely.

Because there are 7 billion people in the world, each with their own peculiarities, and the most foolish thing to think is that they can be put in one pot.

This understanding is automatically instilled in many through family or culture, others have to learn. Because eating is also a skill, by mastering the basic rules, it becomes easy, you think much less about it.

Like any skill - everyone also once learned phones and computers, even a new TV remote needs to be learned. But then it all becomes simple and understandable. Eating is the same skill.

And again – I truly, truly swear – those who have no problems with eating truly don't weigh anything and don't follow plans. It is precisely this following and failures that have created problems with eating.

How to use artificial intelligence?

If you still think that a nutrition plan is the right solution, never pay for something that artificial intelligence will do much better and for free. It's 2025 and it's getting stronger and stronger.

How to do it? Go to your favorite AI chat like chatgpt.com or another and ask:

You are an experienced nutritionist and meal planner who creates truly thoughtful, balanced, and individualized nutrition plans, taking into account each client's specific needs. You do nothing superficially and use in-depth reasoning to consider both the best options and double-check formulas and numbers. About me - I am a woman/man, X years old, my weight is X kg and my height is X cm. My desire is to lose weight, approximately 2-3kg per month, could you create a nutrition plan with recipes where at least 30% of the calories would be protein, with the remaining evenly divided between carbohydrates and fats.

Please also perform the necessary calorie calculation for me. Note that I am not active, most of my days are spent sitting. Please note that I would like to eat 3 times a day, without snacks, and every other day eat a small treat, like a piece of marshmallow or a small 30g chocolate.

Please note that I do not like seafood and fish, from vegetables I do not like cabbage and onions. Please provide many vegetables and fruits. Prepare vegetables deliciously - with additions like oil, sour cream, mayonnaise, by frying, stewing and pureeing. When specifying product weight in recipes, please use the weight before cooking, i.e., dry/raw product weight.

You will be given the first result, which will already be very good. Your task is to adjust it – be as specific as necessary. Imagine that you can ask or request anything and it will be fulfilled without question. Of course, I would recommend double-checking the results, as it tends to make mistakes.

The plan doesn't have to be for weight loss, then adjust the text and enter your data and wishes. You can also ask for ideas for party food and what to take with you on a trip. The possibilities are endless.

But you'll see that you get even more than any nutrition plan can give you, and you can individualize it down to the smallest detail! And you can ask for a plan for the week and even a shopping list.

How to deal with your eating?

Knowing the problems mentioned above and looking for solutions, for more than 7 years I have successfully provided all the necessary information to those who are tired of difficult eating and weight control.

If you also want an easier daily life, sign up for the Nutrition Project and I will individually help you deal with your specific situation and challenges.