Diets don't work.
Ok, ok.... They may make you thinner but that's about it. After a diet, you are still left with all the scars that made you overweight in the first place. How do I know? I've been there, and I know so many people who have as well. So technically, if one goes on a diet and also works on the reasons they got there in the first place, it's a win right?
According to Geneen Roth, renowned writer with numerous books on emotional/compulsive eating, this may not actually work either. In two of the books I've read of hers so far, she preaches that instead of losing weight on a diet ( which in any form is a way of restricting one's self ) and relying upon a program to guide you, listening to your body's cues and learning to trust and love yourself is the way to true freedom.
I've been on Weight Watchers off and on since I was about 15 years old... That's over half my life! I thrive on letting someone else, or a 'program' to tell me what I should and shouldn't eat, and how much is appropriate. It's easier to go on auto pilot, and let someone else make all the decisions than it is figure out how to eat when my body needs it, and to re-learn a normal way of eating. The idea that I shouldn't actually be on a diet or 'program' is terrifying. After all, while I'm reading books, doing self discovery, attending therapy and meeting regularly with a dietician, I could have likely lost another 10-15 pounds by now!
I could be back on Weight Watchers, count points, be diligent, attend the gym on schedule and I'd be at my goal weight faster than all this self-discovery crap. I know that I could hit my goal weight, I know how, I'm an expert! But losing weight will never get rid of the scars, will never get rid of the reasons I gained weight to begin with and certainly never made my life any better. Dieting restricts, and that's not being kind to yourself. Being kind to yourself means being in tune with your body, and who you are, loving all parts of yourself and listening to what your body needs.
My dietician recommended Geneen Roth's books to me, and when I started reading I immediately connected and knew this was the way to freedom. I don't want to spend my life dieting, counting points, chasing a dream, of feeling guilt and shame whenever I am around food. I want the freedom of recognizing my body's cues. I want to eat when I am hungry, stop when I am comfortably full, truly enjoy and experience foods, and love who I am. When I get there (and I know I will ), I want to help others in similar situations find the light at the end of the tunnel.
