Stop with the Diets! The Non-Dieting Style of Eating

February 28, 2019

If I was given a dollar for every time I heard somebody was going on a diet or trying a new diet, I probably could have retired before I was even born.

Diets, in our many years of observation (and personal experience!), are temporary. They’re often driven by fads and trends, a sudden urge to lose weight, thinking that it will somehow turn you into a superhuman or at the very least, a better version of yourself. What we don’t really like about dieting is the temporary nature of it that often drives people into an unhealthy relationship with food. 

Recent health crazes like the keto, paleo, Atkins diets and so forth were ranked as some of the worst diets in 2018. People lose weight, but always end up regaining it - because these diets often fail to address your biology that will always work to defend your set point (starting weight). While we aren’t necessarily shunning diets altogether, we’re more about developing healthier relationships with food, as these are sustainable ways of eating that you can carry throughout your life - not just for a couple of months or years. The best things about non-diet styles of eating are that the focus is on health, so its highly unlikely that you’ll be constantly staring at the scales feeling discouraged.

And we find that a lot of the times that people go on diets, it's only to finish in a pit of despair, surrounded by chip packets, lolly wrappers and pizza boxes. Or its to have a ‘cheat day’ where they can spend a whole day bingeing to their heart’s content. But wouldn’t it be healthier to just treat yourself in smaller amounts, rather than committing a full day to it? You’ll probably even find that you aren’t eating as much junk when you spread it out!

So, if I were to tell you that you could go on a diet that lets you eat whatever you want, would you believe me? Yes, I’m talking cakes, I’m talking cookies, I’m talking chocolate. Sounds too good to be true, right?

The key to a healthy relationship with food is mindful eating. Yes, being healthy is in part eating the nutritionally recommended amount of fruits, veggies, carbs, proteins and so forth. However, it’s also about understanding your body and how your body reacts to food, and understanding what your body actually needs to function.

We’re wholly supportive of the non-dieting style of eating which promotes:

• Listening to your body
• Eating only when you’re hungry, but stopping yourself when you’re full
• Eating without distractions such as your TV or phones
• Moving daily for enjoyment
• Being accepting of your body’s natural size and shape
• Removing food guilt
• Ending food preoccupation by removing any form of food restriction.

In essence, the non-dieting style promotes health rather than weight management. By promoting the above aspects, it improves your psychological and physical wellbeing, self-esteem and body image satisfaction.

In saying that, we’re also supportive of cutting down on preservatives and processed foods. However, do it because you want to be healthier and it makes you feel better, not because you want to lose weight!

Learn more about the non-dieting eating style in this article.
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