Not Dieting: Neutralize Your Number

24 March 2008

Neutralize Your Number

NotDieting subscriber, Miss Mabel, has discovered a weight loss TV show that might be of interest. She agrees the title is hideous, "I Can Make You Thin". But, the creator has Four Golden Rules which encourage body awareness:

Eat whenever you are hungry
Eat only what you want, never what you think you ‘should’
Eat consciously and enjoy every mouthful
Stop when you even think your body is full

The only thing I would watch out for is doing these things just because they might make you thin. Weight neutrality is an important part of having a positive body image. If you are following the Four Golden Rules and are still plump, that's okay!

Many of us are form an almost spiritual attachment to a specific number on the scale. The waiting game can put your life in a constant state of inertia. When you focus on a number, instead of the way your body feels (hungry, full, tired, energized), then you will never be happy. Whenever I would reach my magic number I would feel happy for a day, and then become increasingly afraid of losing it.

The main reason I think the Four Golden Rules are important is because they encourage you to be aware of your body, which is the exact opposite of what dieting teaches us to do.

Note: I don't have cable, so if anyone watches this TV show please send me a report along with your opinions. Thanks!

Update: I just watched some clips of the show on YouTube and still agree with the Four Golden Rules, but disagree with the format of the show. What do you think?

2 comments:

London Mabel said...: I will say this--the format is creepy. All that shouting and ra-ra-ness. I almost turned off the tube about 5 times. But when he made this woman throw out anything in her kitchen that she doesn't like to eat, I thought that was funny.

There's another show, Cook Yourself Thin I think it's called, with these 4 British chicks. Again, not perfect (focus on dropping dress sizes), but it's really just healthy cooking. But anyway, they're very entertaining--the format is really cute.; 26 March, 2008
Caitlin said...: thanks for the tip!; 26 March, 2008

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Need A Reason?

1. Diets Don't Work
The problem with most diets is they're too specific to fit our lives. They tell you what to eat and how much, but don't take into account individual preferences, lifestyle, time constraints and likes and dislikes. Plus, they throw so much change at us that they're nearly impossible to follow for a long period of time. Remember that weight loss is a lifetime thing.

2. Diets Are Ridiculous
Fad diets, such as the Cabbage Diet or the Hollywood Diet, use semi-starvation methods to promote weight loss which, if you didn't already know, is completely ridiculous. And it's bad for you too. Diets that restrict one or more of the food groups should top your list of diets to avoid since you'll be missing out on important nutrients and your weight loss will be temporary. Why waste your time?

3. Some Diets Are Unhealthy
Okay, not all diets are unhealthy but some of the most popular diets out there, such as low-carb diets, urge us to cut out some important components. Scientists love to confuse us with conflicting studies about whether these diets are safe, but you don't need an expert to figure out that you need carbs, protein AND fat to be healthy. Plus, if a diet is too restrictive, you won't follow it.

4. Diets Require Lots of Work

Most of us are busy and don't have time for the careful shopping, cooking and calorie-counting many diets require. If a diet calls for all kinds of things you don't have time for, how long do you think you'll be able to follow it?

5. Diets Make You Feel Like a Failure
Many diets are so restrictive and complicated, you're almost guaranteed to fail. It helps to understand that tackling everything at once and changing your eating habits overnight will not work. In fact, you're sure to fail if that's the approach you take and it's not because you're a loser, either.

6. Diets Zap Your Pocketbook
Diets are big business. Remember, the people who sell diet books have an agenda--to take your money and buy themselves a million=dollar mansion in Beverly Hills. Is anyone more interested in your health and happiness than you? No. So be skeptical of the infomercials and diet books out there. The 'diet gurus' don't always have your best interests at heart.

7. Diets Are Temporary
Lifetime health and fitness ain't an option with dieting. As mentioned above, even if you DO manage to follow a diet, you'll almost always give up on it when those cravings hit (and they will if you're restricting your food too much). This means you'll end up losing weight and gaining it right back which is a complete waste of your time. Don't you have better things to do?

8. Diets Sap Your Energy
The reason you lose weight on diets is because you drastically reduce your calorie intake. You may think this is good, but too little food means fatigue, low energy and it can even stall weight loss. Your body needs fuel for weight loss and if you don't get enough, your body will hoard every fat cell it can. Eat several small meals a day to stay satisfied and energetic.

9. Diets Give Food a Bad Rap
Diets usually restrict the foods you love to eat. When told you can't eat something, you become obsessed with not eating it-and that makes you crave it even more. Remember, foods aren't good or bad and you can eat what you love. Eating is one of the great pleasures in life and you can enjoy it without guilt when you allow yourself treats now and then.

10. Diets Aren't the Answer
I've said it before and it bears repeating: Making small changes in your diet every day is the easiest way to successfully change bad eating habits. Focusing on one thing at a time, one day at a time, will ease the pressure and allow you to ease your way into a new healthy lifestyle.

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