DIETING ISN’T HELPING YOU IT’S HURTING YOU

I don’t believe in diets. Any diet I’ve ever attempted, I’ve gained the weight back over time. I believe diets are for temporary purposes. If you have a wedding coming up or an event and you want to look more trim, then I understand the purpose of dieting, but if you are looking to STAY trim, you will struggle.

The problem with diets is that they mainly cause you to cut something out dramatic such as carbs. You can’t cut out carbs for the rest of your life, that is unrealistic. Carbs are essential for you to function properly. Carbs are key for maximum energy, speed stamina, concentration, recovery and better fluid balance. But when most people think of carbs they think of things like bread, pasta and potatoes. I was guilty of this 6 months ago, but carbs are found in fruits and vegetables too.

Fad diets tends to create unhealthy relationships with food. At least for me, I’ve noticed that when I tell myself I can’t eat a certain food, I crave it even more. Some people go with intuitive eating, which is an approach that teaches you how to create a healthy relationship with your food, mind and body. It helps get rid of “food worry” thoughts and you learn how to make peace with food.

For me, what’s worked is really listening to my body. I know what foods make me feel good and what foods don’t make me feel good. I don’t have a desire to eat the foods that make me feel bad. To me, one of the worst feelings is that feeling of regret. I used to feel that a lot about a year ago. I would tell myself, “just one more Oreo” and 10 Oreos later I felt terrible. Now if I feel like having something sweet, I try going for a better option such as chocolate covered almonds or dark chocolate. Or if I am out and it’s someones birthday, I have a bite of cake rather than eating a piece and a half. It’s all about finding that balance.

If you are really struggling with cravings, I suggest taking a look at the Whole30. The Whole 30 is a program designed to help put an end to unhealthy eating habits and cravings. It’s a way to reset your nutritional system and balance your immune system.

Realistically we can’t diet for the rest of our lives. But if you start to adapt healthy eating habits, when we you eat something that isn’t great, it won’t set you back. If you are looking for some healthy eating habit tips, check out this great article to help get you started!