Posted by Bobbie | Posted in Eating Healthy, Weight Loss | Posted on Sat May 15, 2010
Yes, I’m convinced dieting makes you fat.
I’m not a doctor or a scholar, but I am a woman that has tried nearly every popular diet on the market. I’ve tried dieting after giving birth to each of my three babies. I’ve tried losing weight for important events. I’ve been there.
The word “diet” pisses me off.
Have you heard your friend/sister/mom/whoever say, “Oh, I’m trying this new belly fat diet (or insert latest fad diet)! I hope it works!”
I feel like we, as a society, are trained to “go on a diet” when we get fat, gain some weight, have a special event to go to, etc.
Gain some weight? It’s okay! You can go on a diet next week to get it off. The problem is next week doesn’t always come. And the vicious cycle begins. This is why dieting makes you fat. I’ll say it again:
DIETING is what is making us fat.
I’m convinced that losing weight (and thus not getting fat) is much simpler than following a fad diet. It needs to stop with the madness that we are subjecting ourselves to – the endless yo yo dieting, following these stupid ass fad diets that restrict certain things or tell you you can eat only certain foods.
If we all eat HEALTHY foods made or born from the Earth (fruits, vegetables, meats, etc.) ALL OF THE TIME we will be okay. We wouldn’t have to DIET. The weight will naturally come off. It may not drop off as quick as it did when you were on the latest fad diet, but it will come off – and it will stay off.
After reading Geneen Roth’s book “Women Food and God” I’m convinced that we also have to find out why we are feeding ourselves when we are NOT hungry. We have to be aware. Why we are eating when we are NOT hungry. Why we are choosing foods that will NOT nourish our bodies.
Aren’t you curious if this will work? Could it be THAT simple?
Image provided by Saying Images.
Have a great weekend everyone. I’ve got lots of Clean Eating recipes to share with you over the next few days. Hope you’re enjoying great weather and an abundance of happiness.
-Bobbie
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 9:41 AM
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 10:05 AM
well… people are always looking for the quick fix. And other people are willing to sell you what seems to be the quick fix (either it’s a diet / supplement / a strange exercise routine / whatever).
when you stop worrying about your weight only in certain occasions and start worrying about your health all the times the point you’re making is really straightforward.
mircea´s last blog ..Paper Soccer (Mind Jogging – 3)
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Mircea, thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Yes, I agree with you on the quick fix, but the problem is there rarely is a “quick fix” that will work long term. Unfortunately our microwave society is all about quick fixes… :(
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 10:20 AM
What a coincidence. Just a few minutes ago I was writing a long email to a fellow blogger, sharing the weight loss journey, about the word “diet” among other things. That poor word needs to be redefined, in my mind. Most people use it to describe what they are doing to lose weight, as in “I am on a diet.” Or as the verb to do the same thing. But in my mind I now use it to simply explain the way I eat, or should be eating, the healthy lifestyle that I need to make my forever plan. My “diet.” And that is about eating the right foods, not about losing weight.
Karen @ WaistingTime´s last blog ..My Shopping Fantasy becomes Reality
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
Karen, we really are on the same wavelength lately! :)
Yes, I could see the word “diet” being used that way. I probably should have clarified using “diet” in the other term, a short term lifestlye change, not a way of eating.
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 10:20 AM
I have a tough time not using the word diet, because for me it is just the right word to describe the way I’m eating, not to label it as a program specifically designed as a “diet” per se.
That being said, I really don’t begrudge any method for losing weight as long as it is healthful. Certainly, I counsel others that losing weight is a simple process where keeping it off is the real challenge. If they choose a “diet”, so be it, but it is when that “diet” doesn’t do much to address true behaviors and relationships with food and exercise that leave me with the most concern. Some just need to get the weight off, before they can create enough emotional energy to tackle the rest.
Kyle´s last blog ..A Lightening Fast Turnaround!
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Kyle, I agree with your attitude towards not putting down healthy weight loss methods… I guess where I was going with this is it’s a simple thing, really. I believe a lot of us (not all of us) do not need a plan or method, we just have to simplify what we are eating and find out why we are overeating. You know what I mean?
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Kyle Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 9:45 am
I know exactly what you mean…you are right on the money with your post.
Kyle´s last blog ..A Lightening Fast Turnaround!
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Agreed!
Michele´s last blog ..Quality time.
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Michele – thanks for reading & commenting :)
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Amen!
You are so right!
So glad that I found your blog- I look forward to following along and reading more!
And, thanks for sharing about Women Food and God- I have to check it out!
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Angie, thanks for finding me as I have now found YOU. :)
The book is worth checking out for all that have ever struggled with eating, emotions, etc. – even MEN.
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 1:03 PM
This is absolute truth. We have been so screwed up about how to eat and when to eat and what to eat that we’ve forgotten it can really be kind of simple and our body will respond. The hard part is conquering the whacked behaviours about food that have been ground down into our heads.
I love that we’re figuring this out and its kinda not as hard as we thought.
I also love your Einstein quote.
Hope you’re having a fantastic weekend!
Meegan´s last blog ..the shoe dilemma & smaller shopping
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Meegan, I believe our society has been brainwashed in some form by the diet industry. It’s a huge billion dollar industry and unfortunately that’s what matters to them – money.
And I agree, conquering the behaviors really is the lesson here.
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 1:55 PM
I hate that word diet! I usually put it like this, “diet”, on my blog if I do use it.. and sometimes I do as unfortunately, it brings traffic to the blog.. BUT, I have posted about this before & why I use the word “diet” like this. Most of the time, I say food program.
Diet, to me, means you are going on something & then will go off it when you have reached some preset goal.. it does not scream lifestyle change to me which is what a person needs to do… LIFESTYLE CHANGE!
Mindful eating took me quite a while, Bobbie…. to pay attention to how I am feeling & making sure it is hunger & not something else AND slowing down & knowing when I have eaten enough & not to keep eating just because.
GREAT POST!
Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Coffee Love!
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Jody, I love seeing “diet” in quotes – that really is a great way to use the term.
I’m just starting with mindful (or intuitive) eating. I am under no illusions that it will be easy. It’s going to be a struggle some days I’m sure, but I have to beat this. It’s a must for me. Plus, look at you. You are the answer to every critic out there that says it can’t be beat. I-N-S-P-I-R-A-T-I-ON
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 3:00 PM
If I understand correctly, the original meaning of the word ‘diet’ was “a way of living or thinking”, and that’s the way I use it now. I learned–finally!–that that other concept of “diet” didn’t work. At all.
My “diet” is lots of fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains, healthy fats…and a smidgen (and by that I mean 5% or less) of decadent treats just because they’re tasty. My “way of living or thinking” also includes vigorous exercise 5-6 days a week and daily quiet time for meditation. I lost all my weight this way and have kept it off by doing these things. I do believe I can live the rest of my life this way. :)
Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..All Quiet on the Southern Front
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Cammy, I think it’s important to have treats now and then. I always felt so deprived on other “diets” that did not allow a piece of this or taste of that. I would blow the whole “diet” because of this. As long as we’re in control and TRUST ourselves, it’s a good thing.
I did not know you were into meditation. I’ve been reading up a lot on it and I’m doing my best in that arena. I find on the days I don’t have some quiet time I struggle more. You really should blog on that (if you haven’t yet) I’d love to read more about your experiences in the realm of meditation!
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Uhm yes, and uhm, ah, it could be and, uhm ah, it IS that simple. You know what I love about you Bobbie? You have a great no-nonsense approach, and huge balls for a girl. I look forward to reading about your continued and increasing success.
Emergefit´s last blog ..Blue Zone Thoughts…
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Bobbie Reply:
May 15th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
One of THE best compliments I’ve received to date. Muchas gracias friend.
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 7:57 PM
This is a fabulous post! When I started my journey at the beginning of this year, I vowed that I would never go on a diet again. No more fads, deprivation, guilt, etc. I am finally learning how to eat in a healthy way that I can keep up for the rest of my life!
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Bobbie Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 8:58 am
You are doing it the right way Carla, IMO! :)
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 11:20 PM
This is such a great post!!! It’s so true. Diets do make people fat. It’s not wonder why there are so many different diets out there and still obese people
She-fit´s last blog ..Bikram Yoga
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Bobbie Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 8:58 am
She-fit, good point. The more diets out there the more obese people. Crazy. I never thought of it that way before.
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Sat May 15, 2010 at 11:39 PM
Just found your blog tonight! Love it! I agree with your post. I am working on trying to find that balance with food…forget the diets.
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Bobbie Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Jessie, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I like that: “forget the diets” should be my new tagline. :)
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Sun May 16, 2010 at 7:55 AM
“Why we are eating when we are NOT hungry”. I’m going to ask myself that question all week long, every time I want to be greedy when I’m NOT hungry. :)
A can you believe it – someone close to me is on a 500-calorie a day diet under the supervision of her “Diet Doctor”. Huh?
Yum Yucky´s last blog ..I Did It! 7 Days Without Eating Sugar
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Bobbie Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Josie, I can believe that. These damn diet doctors. I went to one awhile back that believed in the LCD (low calorie diets) and put me on a 600 cal/day diet. I remember him telling me it was okay to eat ice cream if that’s what I wanted, but if I went over my 600 cals that day, that’s all I could have! So healthy.
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Rita @ The Giggly Bits Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
OMG, doctor’s like that exist? That makes we want to barf a little.
Rita @ The Giggly Bits´s last blog ..Test of New Body Acceptance: Take 1
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Bobbie Reply:
May 19th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Unfortunately YES. And he’s very popular up where I live!!!!
Sun May 16, 2010 at 11:32 PM
As for the diet word, I use it all the time to describe my average pattern of food consumption, I’m reclaiming it as it was intended. Sort of like the c word when the vagina monologues came out.
What people do to drop 2 sizes in 7 days would be more what I refer to as insanity.
Great post as always!
Rita @ The Giggly Bits´s last blog ..Test of New Body Acceptance: Take 1
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Bobbie Reply:
May 19th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Ha ha! This reminds me of that gal Susan Powter (not sure if that’s spelled right). Remember her – “STOP THE INSANITY!”
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Mon May 17, 2010 at 2:46 AM
i love this post! and i SO AGREE with you!
liz´s last blog ..Eat Smarter, Move More
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Thu May 20, 2010 at 11:05 AM
I’m reading the book right now….I think it’s good so far!
Deborah´s last blog ..Happy Beyond–my first post!
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