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Guest post by Heather K. Jones<\/a>, registered dietitian<\/em><\/p>\n By now we all know that diets don\u2019t work, right? Even so, with a 68 billion dollar weight loss industry constantly enticing us to jump on the diet-and-deprivation bandwagon, it\u2019s hard to just say no. I get it.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s the thing: You cannot shame and deprive your way to a happy and healthy life. Even if you lose some weight on a restrictive diet, it doesn\u2019t stick. And it certainly doesn\u2019t make you feel fulfilled or free.<\/p>\n Going on a diet is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm. They\u2019re ineffective and exasperating at best, emotionally damaging and physically harmful at worst.<\/p>\n Rather than putting yourself on another restrictive diet (and then beating yourself up when it inevitably doesn\u2019t work), starving yourself, or pretending like you just don\u2019t care anymore, try something radical \u2026and something much, much better. Try treating yourself and your body the same way you would treat someone you love\u2014with respect, compassion, and loving care.<\/p>\n Most people don\u2019t expect their journey to health and lasting weight loss to be filled with joy and ease. Most expect struggle, sacrifice, and suffering, and so that\u2019s exactly what they get. But the struggle does not move you forward in positive ways\u2014it keeps you stuck and miserable.<\/p>\n Here are my top 4 reasons to ditch dieting, and what to do instead\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Maybe you\u2019re afraid of being \u201cseen\u201d and the extra weight is your excuse to stay in your comfort zone (FYI: Real change happens outside your comfort zone). Or perhaps you turn to food to avoid feeling negative or strong emotions. Or you might be really sensitive and use the excess weight as a sort of armor to make you feel safe. Or maybe your weight issues are related to childhood abuse, abandonment, or other painful losses you experienced growing up, and for you food equals comfort and weight equals protection.<\/p>\n Diets don\u2019t help you understand WHY you overeat in the first place, so they don\u2019t get to the root of the issue. And without this vital information, you\u2019re going to have a hard time.<\/p>\n Once you understand your fears, however, you can effectively work your way through them. And this will give you the psychological green light you need to lose the weight, for good. That\u2019s why identifying and releasing your weight loss fears is a critical part of my 3-week FREE Summer Session starting August 1st (click HERE to sign up for the free class<\/a>).<\/p>\n Feeding yourself according to external cues\u2014the clock, the amount of food on your plate, or a rigid dieting plan\u2014goes against your bodies\u2019 natural instincts and internal wisdom. And if you skip meals or underfeed yourself, you trigger your primal drive to overeat.<\/p>\n Your perfectly designed body instinctively knows exactly what it needs to thrive and naturally reach its ideal weight\u2014you just have to listen to it.<\/p>\n Tuning in to what your body needs (instead of ignoring your hunger), builds trust, and learning how to get your emotional needs met (without eating) transforms your relationship with food. This is the opposite of what diets do, and this leads to long-lasting change and weight loss. (Find out more about intuitive eating HERE.) http:\/\/smallersizebiggerlife.com\/summer\/<\/p>\n And if you think your body is broken or your metabolism is ruined (common complaints from my clients), know this: You can\u2019t permanently damage your metabolism. Your (incredible!) body will bounce back so much faster than you think. Instead of fighting, underfeeding, and abusing your body, be amazed by it. It\u2019s working hard to keep you alive, and it deserves your appreciation and respect.<\/p>\n We all have a set of memorized behaviors, emotional reactions, beliefs, and attitudes that run behind the scenes. This subconscious program determines how we live and make decisions on a moment-to-moment basis. And when you have beliefs and thoughts that don\u2019t support your health goals, you end up constantly sabotaging yourself.<\/p>\n Plus, if you only consider yourself \u201cworthy\u201d or \u201cgood enough\u201d when you eat less, weigh less, or stick to an unattainable set of dieting rules, you set yourself up for a never-ending cycle of self-hate and frustration.<\/p>\n Trying to lose weight without also changing your mind is a BIG weight loss mistake. On the other hand, if you shift your mindset from fear and guilt to acceptance and forgiveness while you implement healthy changes, you\u2019ll fast track your success.<\/p>\n So what\u2019s the best way to start shifting your mindset? Easy. Stop criticizing yourself. Accept and love yourself exactly as you are (yup, extra pounds and all). This is the first step to making any change. You\u2019re not giving up. You\u2019re empowering yourself to feel good now so that you can take positive actions towards your goals with confidence.<\/p>\n Think about it this way: If criticizing yourself worked, you\u2019d already be thin and happy, right?<\/p>\n Food is a seriously important part of self-care. One of the best ways to love yourself is to provide your body with nutrient-rich foods that make you feel and look your best.<\/p>\n Food is also the universal connector\u2014we all have to eat! We all celebrate with food, socialize with food, and fuel ourselves with food. Food is a life-giving necessity and eating should be fun and enjoyable.<\/p>\n Diets, however, make you feel like food is the enemy. Food restriction also triggers binge eating, increases anxiety, and slows your metabolism. Diets rob you of the pleasure of eating and keep you locked in a self-imposed food prison. But you can choose food freedom instead. It\u2019s all up to you.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned working as a dietitian for the last 20 years (and overcoming my own struggles), it\u2019s that you cannot solve your food and body issues with the same hateful mindset that got you here. It just doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n1. Diets don\u2019t address the reasons why you struggle<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\n2. Diets encourage you to ignore your body\u2019s wisdom<\/h3>\n
3. Diets don\u2019t program your mind for success<\/h3>\n
4. Diets keep you locked in food prison<\/h3>\n