Why You Should Stop Dieting

Diets Are Dangerous To Your Health

For decades, we have been brainwashed by popular media to believe we must sacrifice our happiness and health in the name of beauty, a necessary sacrifice in order to be worthy of love, connection and belonging.

We are taught to rely on the validation of others in order to feel beautiful in order to meet our ideal mate or experience life success. Thousands of dollars are spent each year on skin care, makeup, manis and pedis, hair cuts and blowouts. Too many times these beauty treatments and enhancements are are used to impress others instead of practicing self care and loving our bodies.

Women often rush out to buy the latest dieting book, believing this time, this diet will give us the results they want. They often get caught up in the excitement and possibility of having the body they want, without thinking about what they are willing to give up in order to get the results they want. While there are some medical conditions that cause weight gain and bloating, many people become overweight over time because they eat when emotional or use food to compensate for feelings of loneliness and unworthiness. Everything always seems better with chocolate, right?

I've Never Been On A Diet

You might be wondering why I'm writing a blog about dieting when I've never been on one before. Like many women, I've struggled with belly fat, bloating, inflammation and not liking how my clothes fit.

I've never been on a diet because I love food and the thought of no more pasta or carbs feels like cruel and unusual punishment. I've also never agreed with the idea that carbs ar bad. I've also lost weight while eating as many carbs as I want. In addition, I've seen too many of my female clients, family members, friends and colleagues sacrifice their emotional well-being and physical health in the name of dieting.

Here are some of the things they have told me over the years:

• " I feel awful but I lost 8 lbs".
  

• "I need to starve myself to fit into my prom/wedding dress".
  

• "I only have to deprive myself of the things I love to eat for two weeks".
  

• "I can't eat that, it has too many carbs".
  

• "I'm hungry all the time but people keep complimenting me on my weight loss".
  

• "As soon as I stopped my diet, I gained the weight back and then some".

• "I can't seem to lose my belly fat. I've tried everything."

A New Way of Eating

Whereas dieting often restricts carbs and foods we need, intuitive eating gives you permission to eat anything you want when you are hungry and stop eating when you are full. Too many times, emotional eaters are experiencing a disconnection with their bodies and are stressed out, throwing their hormones and hunger/full bodily responses out of whack. They are also often craving sweet, sugary foods and not moving enough to burn off the extra calories.

Intuitive Eating is about listening to what your body needs and wants and living a healthy lifestyle, including 8 hours per night of restful sleep, learning to soothe yourself, without food, when irritable or anxious, daily exercise, probiotics, supplements and vitamins your body needs and foods your gut likes.

NO MORE EXCUSES

Intuitive Eating and Wellness Plans only work when we actively choose to integrate them into our daily lives. We stop making excuses for why we are not making healthy lifestyle choices and expecting different results. We don't use our children, hubbies/partners or work as an excuse not to exercise, learn and use stress management skills, or choose to eat when we are full.

We visualize success, put in the hard work and call on reinforcements when we feel stuck. Sometimes this means walking with a neighbor or a friend, hiring a wellness or life coach, meeting with a counselor or joining a social group that promotes healthy living. We take responsibility for our lives and get excited when we reach milestones. We ask ourselves tough questions and let go of limiting beliefs.

Why Italy Has A Lower Rate of Obesity

Italy's most well known food staples are pizza and pasta. However, Italians also eat vegetables, fish, beans and very little red meat. They also walk everywhere! In many Italian cities, streets are made out of cobblestones and traffic is limited. Therefore, walking, trains and bus are the primary forms of transportation. Italy is also known for its tourism, savoring delicious food, taking a siesta in the afternoon to spend time with their families and enjoying life. There's less focus on working extra hours and sacrificing family time to earn more money.

Diet of Denial

I never understood

the appeal of denial diets,

even as my sisters rushed

to fill their shopping carts

with the latest food fad.

I prefer the "goddess gorge",

to denying my carb cravings.

Maybe because I'm too good,

at breaking the rules and finding loopholes.

(C) Sara Minges 2010, Whisky Sweet, Black Heart Press, 2021

Daisy's Diet Disaster

There's a light burning in the kitchen, an egg frying in the pan,

a flame flaming on the stove, some sushi from Japan.

There's a light burning in the bedroom,

a TV shining bright;

since I have no date,

I just lick the plate.

Funny how the moon is made of cheese

and when I look in the mirror,

I see Dom Deluise.

Bananas and cream are my latest passion;

it's absurd to carry on in this faship.

I look out my window to see the stars. Oh heavens!

I only see Snicker's Bars.

-Stacey Handler, author of The Body Burden: Living in the Shadow of Barbie

(a.k.a. Granddaughter of Barbie's creator)

My Fight With Barbie

Barbie and I had a fight last night.

She is tired of being silent,

but thinks admiration ain't so bad.

Me, I am tired of being compared

to her too perfect, hourglass figure

impossible to replicate.

So I fall short, where she soars.

Still, I think I prefer to keep my voice.

Instead of being plastic, silenced.

-Sara Minges, author of Naked Toes (Chameleon Press, 2018) Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe Now! Follow us on social media via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Sara Minges, B.A., M.S., is a former therapist, international speaker, life and wellness coach and published author. Her next book, "Eat Cake for Breakfast" is scheduled to be released in 2021.