It is just so predictable – January hits and we are bombarded with weight loss diets, juice cleanses, meal replacement shakes with 20% etc. And it doesn’t help when you see the likes of the Kardashians jumping on board and promoting this rubbish! But let me remind you, these celebrities are PAID (A LOT) to promote these products and they have no interest at all in your health.
The word ‘diet’ is often used in the month of January as it the most popular month for purchasing gym memberships and embarking on a new meal plan you may have come across online, in a book or in a magazine. You should know, that many of the ‘diets’ available to the public (such as ones published in magazines) are not recommended by qualified nutrition professionals. Unfortunately, it’s usually an ‘influencer’ or celebrity who is promoting their ‘amazing new diet’ that helped them ‘lose 10lbs in 2 weeks’.
So, as a qualified nutritionist, I am here to tell you why you DO NOT need to buy in to any of this diet b*ll****.
Let’s think about this for a minute; what will you get out of a ‘detox’ diet or a calorie restricting diet, or even just a 3 day ‘juice cleanse’? I can confidently answer this question with the response: absolutely nothing positive! Embarking on some sort of fad diet will most likely hinder your relationship with food and leave you feeling worse than when you started. Ultimately, fad diets are not sustainable. I can tell you that there is no research that promotes a positive outcome in regards to the long-term effects of low fat, low calorie, restricting fad diets. In fact, the relevant research actually tells us that weight loss achieved by a non-sustainable diet will most likely lead to additional weight gain in the long run, thus causing you to be more dissatisfied with your body than before.
Now think about this: what about if we learn to LOVE our bodies and BE KIND to ourselves and not feel the need to restrict!? How great would that be! Now I know that’s easier said than done, but I really do believe that the first step to having a healthier relationship with food IS ditching diet culture. Just opt out. If you see it, unfollow it, ignore it, pay no attention to it – because all they want is your money!
I am also going to let you in on my ‘top tip’ to help you start loving your body more –throw away your scales!
Your happiness and perception of your body should not be determined by the number on scales. Period. As individuals, we come in different shapes and sizes; that is what makes us unique. We are not all meant to be the same weight because we are all biologically different. Plus, have you ever stepped on the scales and had it ruin your whole day? If the answer is yes, throw them away now!!
If you feel you need nutrition support, please only ever seek advice from a registered and qualified nutrition professional.
