DO YOU HAVE A DIET MENTALITY?

Hi Friends! 

So I have a question for you... Do you have a diet mentality? 

Do you... 

• Count calories? 
• Feel ashamed or guilty after eating certain foods? 
• Deprive yourself of eating your favorite foods? 
• Feel like you should or shouldn't eat certain foods? 

If you answered yes to any of these; you are likely living with a diet mentality.  And you're NOT alone! 

Our culture has become saturated with diet-focused thoughts and beliefs and this mentality has sadly become a completely "normal" way of thinking for many of us.  Did you know ... that over no  women have been on at least one diet by the time they go to college. 

This Saturday, May 6th is No Diet Day.  We at The Meal Planning Method want to challenge you to begin to break the cycle of these diet-focused thoughts!  Keep reading for ways to help you embrace intuitive eating and finally allow ALL foods to fit. :) 

Dieting is dangerous to our health. Research has shown that people who diet are more likely to gain the weight they have lost back plus more! This is often what drives people into the dieting cycle as known as "yo-yo dieting".  (You lose and gain back, lose and gain back.) 

Dieting also deprives us of getting the nutrition our bodies need. When dieting, we look to the diet (whichever one) to tell us what to eat or not to eat. And because of this, we are ignoring the one thing that naturally knows what we should and should not eat and how much... our own body. 

​Our bodies are amazing and are made to survive and thrive. We don't question our heart to beat or lungs to breathe or legs to move when we want, so why do we not trust our own hunger and fullness? 

5 Ways to Break the Diet Mentality

1. Determine what your true taste preferences are. Instead of eating what you think you "should" be eating. Be mindful of the taste, flavors and textures of food to help you decide if you truly like something or not.
2. Change your food language. Food is not good or bad.  Food is hot, cold, spicy, sweet, savory, decadent, delicious, tangy, sour, and more. 
3. Eat the foods you truly enjoy. Once you figure this out, then eat then. When we deprive ourselves of something we like, we will constantly think about it and this can lead to overeating. So, incorporate ALL the foods you love to stop the deprivation. 
4. Stop the negative self-talk with daily affirmations. When we give a value or label of good or bad to food; often times it's followed with negative self-talk. Change these thoughts into positive ones! 
5. Listen to your body's signals of hunger and fullness. Begin to check in with your body. This is a practice that won't happen overnight. Trust your body to know exactly what it needs and listen to it. 

We know this challenge is tough, but you can do it! We are here to help and support you.

Share how YOU are breaking the diet mentality by commenting below or by using #MealPlanningMethod.

Check out these resources for more information on intuitive eating and health at every size. 

christy