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was on a diet vs had been dieting

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Was on a diet' is used to talk about a specific period when someone was following a diet plan. 'Had been dieting' is used to refer to a past action that was happening over a period of time before another event took place.

Last updated: March 31, 2024

was on a diet

This phrase is correct and commonly used to refer to a specific period when someone was following a diet plan.

This phrase is used to describe a past period during which someone followed a specific diet plan to control their food intake.

Examples:

  • Last year, I was on a diet to lose weight.
  • She was on a diet for three months before her wedding.
  • He was on a diet that restricted his sugar intake.
  • This one time I was on a diet pill and I stayed up for 67 hours.
  • No! No! Didn't you say you was on a diet, Mom?
  • I was on a diet.
  • He was raised on a diet of western television And airport novels.
  • Or like she was on a liquid diet.
  • When Jackie fell on her head during cheerleading, she was on a liquid diet for days.
  • At first she said she was putting me on a diet for my own good.
  • In my defense, I was on a few diet pills at the time.
  • Found out he was on a popcorn diet.
  • I probably should've told you she was on a steady diet of juniper.
  • The last one we had here, seemed like she was on a liquid diet.
  • She was on a real strict liquid diet.
  • Earl tells me to go on a diet.
  • And I've been considering a diet...
  • Sorry, I was thinking I should go on a diet.
  • You do not need to be on a diet.
  • Leena's got me on a diet.
  • She had a diet 7 up and exploded.
  • A diet soda please that would be great.
  • Think that I had been on a diet.

Alternatives:

  • followed a diet
  • stuck to a diet
  • maintained a diet

had been dieting

This phrase is correct and is used to refer to a past action that was happening over a period of time before another event took place.

This phrase is used to describe a continuous action of following a diet over a period of time before a specific point in the past.

Examples:

  • She had been dieting for six months before she reached her goal weight.
  • By the time he went to the doctor, he had been dieting for a year.
  • They had been dieting together for a while before they saw any results.
  • The girls and I have been dieting.
  • The girls and I have been dieting today.
  • Especially since I've been dieting.
  • She's been dieting to fit into herjumpsuit.
  • Alright. I have been dieting all day long.
  • I've been dieting my whole life for this!
  • So... how long have you been dieting?
  • No extreme dieting and no intensive workout regimen.
  • In my condition there's no use dieting.
  • Dieting's only half of it.
  • I want to be surviving rather than dieting right now.
  • She was weak from dieting, though.
  • Successful dieting doesn't lower your set point.
  • Children are especially vulnerable to this cycle of dieting and then binging.
  • Can help you lose more weight than dieting alone.
  • Aworld war, dieting... and movies.
  • Five months of dieting to fit into this dress.
  • Bry, we have to talk about your dieting.
  • How dare you take dieting so lightly?
  • Even at its best, dieting is a waste of time and energy.

Alternatives:

  • had followed a diet
  • had stuck to a diet
  • had maintained a diet

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