I've done it all:
Curves
Weight Watchers
South Beach
Calorie Tracking
Macro Tracking
Skinny Teas
Juice Cleanses
Detox supplements
Intermittent Fasting
Slim Fast
And despite the fact that every bit of science tells us that diets don't work (see this article and references at the bottom ) we continue to spend about 60 billion dollars a year in America to change our weight with fixes that promise us the moon. Lately the industry has rebranded itself as a "lifestyle" but make no mistake: if it makes you self loath and feel like a failure, it's a diet.
My heart has become heavy over the past several weeks because of the dichotomy of my life: exercise and nutrition has healed me in many ways, I work in the medical field and know the importance of health, and yet I also see so many people held back (myself included) by body image issues.
Can you imagine how much we would accomplish if we stopped thinking about our weight and appearance at the expense of other things. How many precious moments of brain power have we wasted by negativity.
So right now, while all the world is so very very loud regarding weight loss: lean in close, dear one. I have journeyed this emotional road so you don't have to. The secret to weight loss is loosing the weight of:
others expectations
self loathing
societal pressure
materialism
We were not put on this earth to diet until we die. We were not formed in the image of God to hate ourselves so much that we will throw away our money at whatever quick fix comes along. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but when we start living our lives well, cortisol production will decrease and metabolism will increase.
Hear me now: YOU WILL NOT BE HAPPY AT A SIZE 0 IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY AT A SIZE 20. It's hard and holy truth.
So what's the best diet? Self love, self care, and gratitude. Then after that heavy work is done, we can focus on the lighter work of whole foods and mindful eating. But until we've done the soul work, we're destined to yo yo forever.
I love you. you are worthy. You can take up space. Your softness, rolls, stretch marks are not offensive or indicative of laziness. They are signs of life. And life is worth the living.
<3
PS - you all know I exercise daily and eat a healthy variety of foods, but this has only come to be with ease after years of working on inner self <3
