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Are You Dieting? Never Again!

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on-a-dietI have told these words before, in other posts: I will be dieting never again. But let me tell you the particular anecdote of this week behind this phrase.

A few days ago, my husband and I went out for a walk and when we were going back home, we saw a restaurant and decided to have lunch there. I ordered grilled chicken and a side salad. The chicken came with fries and two sauces. I kindly asked for one grilled potato instead of the fries and I also said that I didn’t want the sauce. When the waiter approached our table with the food that we had ordered, he looked at me and asked: “no sauce? what happens? Are you on a diet?” I replied: “dieting? Never again!”

The truth is that this situation reminds me of many other occasions of the past in which I replied “yes, I’m doing a diet” or “yes, I shouldn’t eat that for a while”. So, the other day, my response to the waiter awakened conflicting feelings. On the one hand, it brought me joy: I answered that I was not on a diet! This is still relatively new for me 🙂 But, on the other hand, I also wondered: why eating clean and making healthy and conscious choices as far as food is concerned should be understood as a diet? I am not on a diet anymore, what I really do is to take care of my body; I look for the choices that will have a positive impact on my health. I respect my body so it is all just that: treating it well, with love and responsibility. It’s not a diet; it’s a way of life.

Just The Way You Choose To Live

dieting-never-againThere is another typical sentence that I have had to listen to when I avoid eating certain things: “I’m sure that you don’t eat those things because  you are afraid of gaining weight”. Well, I’m afraid of spiders and snakes, but I’m not afraid of gaining weight anymore; I have already done that mental work. I simply care about my body needs.

I guess it is difficult to understand for many people. When I think about my own trials and tribulations with the topics of diet, deprivation and extenuating exercise, I can better see why some people still think about salads, fruits and veggies and fresh juices in terms of diet and food restriction. I thought that, having gone through so much in this sense, I was an expert; I thought that I knew everything that I had to know to succeed and regain the body I had once. However, all this –supposedly- wide and quality knowledge hadn’t put my goal closer to me. I knew (and almost everybody knows) that eating fresh veggies and fruits was good for me but I didn’t really know to what extent, eating “comfort food”, could ruin my health.

I didn’t know many other things such as, for instance, that eating what nature delivers to us can be something not only beneficial for your health but very, very enjoyable and delightful. For me, eating lots of veggies, fruits, raw cereals, seeds and nuts and creating original and super tasty recipes is the normal thing. It is not what I do to maintain or to lose weight. It’s just the way I live with regard to the essential needs of my body.

Watch What You Read, See And Listen To

too-much-informationI was misinformed indeed and I lacked much other relevant data. The fact that this happens is quite easy, taking into account that, in the  information era (I like more the terms information overload or infoxication) we are overexposed to messages about very diverse issues and, many often, we don’t have the time to stop and select relevant, reliable information. We receive faster than what we are able to process so, in the end, it is very easy to get confused and/or going for the wrong information. Also, it is all orchestrated in order that specific messages, from certain companies, prevail over others; so, you think you are consuming what you want, but in fact, you have chosen what you are more exposed to, what they wanted you to choose. Please, take care before making an important decision about what you are going to do regarding your health or any other aspect of your life.

What do you think of all this? Do you think that misinformation is an important part of weight issues? Leave your comments and questions below. They are much appreciated! 😉

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Featured image of post: Marcin Wichary

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About the author: Luz

Luz´s professional practice is closely linked to her personal history with weight, body image and health issues. After suffering weight problems for almost 20 years and having accumulated an overweight of almost 30 kg (66 lbs), both her physical and emotional health began to deteriorate on many different fronts. It is therefore not a coincidence that she undertook a PhD in Media and Gender Studies (University of Swansea, UK). In her research, she has deeply analysed prevalent body image messages found in today´s popular culture, how such representations are perceived by the public, and how they relate to the development of dysfunctional behaviours. The variety of perspectives analysed in her work includes dominant beauty canons, overweight issues, distortions of perceived body image, power structures, sexuality, or balance of professional/personal life. Professionally, she is highly familiar with the devastating effects of current beauty canons pervasively promoted by a host of media, magazines, TV programs, or movie/music stars, and how such canons can easily permeate both our own minds and of those around us. Today, Luz has overcome her weight problems and has regained her health. Motivated by the need of helping others to solve problems that, like in her case, have you trapped in a vicious circle for years or even decades, Luz got certified as a Professional Coach. She currently lives in Sweden, where she runs El Viaje de Luz, with a practice of hundreds of hours of coaching with people like you who seek to overcome problems of physical, emotional or professional nature. You can read his full bio (in Spanish) here .

4 comments to “Are You Dieting? Never Again!”

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  1. Mohammad Tarmizzy - October 23, 2015 at 19:35 Reply

    Hello Luz. I agree with your point concerning on the difference between diet and lifestyle. I mean, there are people, like the restaurant stuff who are misinformed and do not know the real, definitive insights about healthy approach like what you’re doing. Well, I hope what the waiter was not serious, as being bubbly in other words.

    Anways, this is what I think. It’s a debate actually. I mean, there are so many information, particularly the constantly published scientific research by scientist which has becoming debatable and divided among community. Basically, everyone is different. I mean, at the end of the day, whatever you think it’s best as well as you enjoy it, like eat healthy, or have a cheat day everyday, or cheat meal, go for it. Whatever that’s effective. It’s all about appreciate the food that you’re having.

    Thanks for sharing, Luz. Hope all’s well and stay healthy.

    Best wishes, Tar.

    • Luz - October 23, 2015 at 23:07 Reply

      Thank you for your insights Mohammad. I definitely agree with you. It’s also very important to stop and think how you feel and for what reasons you are doing what you are doing. Appreciate your body, appreciate the food, as you say, and enjoy the gift of life 😉 Thanks!

  2. Kristie - October 24, 2015 at 02:37 Reply

    I totally get you. I have a similar experience. I definitely eat what I want but I am more conscious of what I put in my mouth. If it is not something that would be beneficial to my body or high in sugars, I don’t eat it. I found that I do not have to give up the foods I love. And now I am finding more foods I love every day because my tastebuds are changing. I crave healthier foods. I know it sounds crazy, but it is true. Great post. I can’t wait to read more.

    • Luz - October 26, 2015 at 11:02 Reply

      Yes! How wonderful is reading your experience, you put just the crucial points: you get to appreciate your body and give it the best fuel, in the meantime, you learn that it does not necessarily mean that you have to renounce the foods you love, and, in the whole process, you finally “resuscitate” your taste buds and eat healthy most of the time without even realizing it! Thanks for sharing your experience, Kristie 😉

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