70 likes | 170 Views
Ditching Dieting. Reba Sloan, MPH, LRD,FAED Nutrition Therapist. “Dieting that causes excessive loss of weight is beset with difficulties” Hippocrates 400 B.C. Why Do People Diet?. To chase an artificial standard Because everyone else is dieting False promises are tempting
E N D
Ditching Dieting Reba Sloan, MPH, LRD,FAED Nutrition Therapist “Dieting that causes excessive loss of weight is beset with difficulties” Hippocrates 400 B.C.
Why Do People Diet? • To chase an artificial standard • Because everyone else is dieting • False promises are tempting • They believe weight loss is a cure for poor self/body esteem • In pursuit of the “perfect diet” • To distract themselves from other issues • It is an effort to improve themselves
Why don’t diets work? • The body compensates for dietary restriction • Restriction of certain foods can promote an obsession with eating those foods • The mind perceives caloric restriction as a famine • Each body has a weight or size that it fights to maintain …the set point theory of weight management
Why don’t diets work? • Diets are finish line driven • They set up people with the “guilt response” • Diets are not real life • Our relationship with food is complicated • We have taste buds! • They are based on faulty logic and science • Diets can be dangerous
If not diets … then what? • Learn about your own relationship to food • Work on connecting with your hunger/satisfied signals • Go for balance, moderation and variety • Get moving • Don’t use the bull dozer approach … try the hammer and chisel! • NO GUILT … eating is not a moral or legal issue!
If not diets … then what? • Be reasonable with your goals • Accept weight/size standards that are appropriate, reasonable and real for YOU • Focus on health and fitness …not thinness • Confront the issues that may be increasing your desire to diet and weight obsess • Know nutrition truth from fiction
Where Do I Go From Here? • Take an inventory of thought distortions that might be barriers to non-diet approach • Love and appreciate the body you have • Determine your nutritional strengths and weaknesses • Find an activity that you can commit to on a nearly daily basis • Establish 2 or 3 challenging … yet achievable goals (not weight related!)