PSA: I realize that it is diet season and that its exciting to start a new portion of your life, but there are some really important things you need to think about. 1. Please be aware of the language you use when discussing your new diet. Dont say negative things about your body! There are two reasons for this. a) Body shaming is never okay, even if its your own! Your body may not be what you want it to be, but its still your body and it deserves respect. Its also important to realize that your body is similar to other peoples, possible people around you, so youre not only shaming your body but youre making negative comments about THEIR body too! That could be really damaging!! and b) it is pertinent that you love yourself and your body through every step of losing weight. You cant build a healthy and functional body if your foundation is built on unhealthy thoughts. Youll be much more likely to push yourself too hard, restrict to an unhealthy level, and expect too much out of your body. 2. Please be aware of the people around you. Its great that youre excited about your diet, but the mention of weight loss, dieting, and body size can trigger those around you. You cant possibly know if you are around someone with body image issues or a full-blown eating disorder, and its very important not to risk their health. 3. If you have the resources to see a doctor, do so before starting a new exercise routine or diet plan. They can help you figure out what things you can safely cut from your diet, how much you should be eating, and give you alternatives for counting calories. They may also be able to refer you to a nutritionist and possibly even a therapist. Your body changing will be very hard for you brain to handle, and if youre planning on losing large amounts of weight please keep in mind that it can do some serious damage if you dont keep it in check. 4. Please be safe! a) Dont weigh yourself more than biweekly AT MOST. Dont put a huge emphasis on weight, either. If you can, dont even weigh yourself. Focus on more accurate measurements, such as body fat percentage. Or even better, dont focus on decreasing your body size at all. Instead, focus on improving your strength, stamina, etc. b) Dont punish yourself for gaining weight or maintaining. Bodies fluctuate in weight throughout the day, and depending on your bodys hormones/cycles, you might not lose at the same pace as those around you. THAT IS OKAY. This is not a competition! c) Do NOT set concrete goals based of vanity, such as a pants size or weight. Dont do anything permanent like get a tattoo with your goal weight. THAT IS UNHEALTHY. Bodies change. You cant expect your body to do what you want just because you want it. Also remember that 95% of people who lose weight using a diet gain it all back. d) DO NOT PUNISH YOURSELF. DO NOT USE FOOD AS A REWARD. Just eat. Dont make working out all about burning off the calories you just ate. Instead, try to change the way you think of it to something more like IT is your reward. You are doing something that you want to do, and that is good for you! That is your gold star. Good job. e) Fight this idea that dieters have to restrict!! If you find yourself saying things like, oh, I only eat salads… or, oh, I am just SO full! while you are not actually full, recognize that those are BAD thoughts. Society has taught you to be a shrinking person. Fight that mentality!! Feed your body fuel! Give it what it deserves! And do not make food about bragging! Good luck in getting wherever you want to be. Just be safe, and recognize that your health is what really matters. Body size is meaningless.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 00:52:08 +0000
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