Resolve to Ditch Dieting in 2021!

Thrive • Jan 07, 2021

As the new year approaches, our social media is overwhelmed with diets, fitness, and meal plans. Unfortunately, most of us fall into the trap of quick fixes. We believe dieting and losing weight is the quick fix to getting fit and healthy. What our social media doesn’t tell us is that dieting is extremely unhealthy for your physical and mental health. In fact, the list of cons surpasses the list of pros when it comes to diets.

Diets increase:

  • food obsession

  • food guilt

  • food anxiety

  • likelihood of an eating disorders

  • intense food cravings

  • labeling food

  • weight cycling

  • weight gain

  • poor body image

Diets damage our relationship with food and ourselves. When dieting, we obsess over how much we eat, feel guilty for our cravings, and deprive ourselves of certain foods. We label food as good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. We gain weight, lose weight, and repeat the cycle.

During the dieting process, we develop a poor body image of ourselves — feeling upset, anxious, and hopeless when we do not see immediate results. That is the problem with dieting. It is not a sustainable lifestyle. Food nourishes us and keeps us alive. Instead of miserably obsessing over eating, we should enjoy the experience of fueling our bodies. Crafting a new lifestyle centered around mindfulness  and intuitive eating will introduce a healthy relationship with yourself and food.

As you establish a balanced relationship with food, practice eating intuitively. This can help heal your relationship with food. Intuitive eating has nothing to do with diets, meal plans, discipline, or willpower. It teaches you how to get in touch with your body cues like hunger, fullness, and satisfaction.

Mindful, aware eating can help all of us honor our hunger and fullness, giving our bodies what we need and like. To practice intuitive eating, be aware of what you are craving, notice the shapes and colors on your plate, and focus on the textures and different flavors. Be present in the moment so you can really taste and enjoy your meal. When you engage your senses, food becomes enjoyable. You learn to love food, nourish your body, and begin a new healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Struggling with food issues?

Dieting can lead to eating disorders and food issues. The National Eating Disorders Association reports that 35 percent of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting and that 20-25 percent of those individuals develop eating disorders.

We specialize in treating eating disorders and healing your relationship with food and your body. Our collaborative team of therapists is passionate about holistically healing the mind, body and soul. We have multiple eating disorder treatment programs and support groups for individuals struggling with eating disorders.

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