International No Diet Day
Today is International No Diet Day. This holiday was initiated in 1992 by Mary Evans Young, director of British anti-dieting campaign “Diet Breakers.” This day was created to encourage international awareness of healthy eating as opposed to dieting. It is an annual celebration of all body types, shapes and sizes. It’s a day where we challenge cultural perceptions and opinions that could result in chronic dieting and discontent with body image.
If you have been reading my blog posts, you probably notice that I never use the word diet when talking about healthy eating. I use phrases such as, “eating plan,” and “healthy lifestyle,” and I try to eliminate the word “diet” from the vocabulary of the clients I work with. The word “diet” has come to imply something that you are “on” or “off.” It leads to cyclically gaining and losing weight, and hardly brings the success and health promised by diets.
There has never been a better day than today to celebrate a life free of dieting that I assure you is out there. By becoming an intuitive eater, you are no longer a prisoner to the restrictions of a specific diet, counting calories or measuring portions like you’re in a science lab. Start by tuning into your body by embracing a healthy non-diet mindset and creating healthy habits that will stay with you forever. By doing this, you have chosen to make lifelong changes, not temporary fixes as diets propose.
I encourage you to celebrate this holiday every day remembering to love yourself and the body that you have, and make healthy choices based on your intuition and the healthy lifestyle you have chosen.
Your turn to take action: Commit today to take time off from the crazy diet plan you are following and listen to your body’s hunger and satiety signals to guide your eating! If you need help, download my FREE guide here.
I stopped using the word diet years ago. It seemed as if “diet” attracted the food. It is a little funny how it has become a dirty four letter word! 🙂
Yes, exactly. I tell people it’s a 4 letter word not to be used in my presence:)
Hi Bonnie. I think I’d have to agree wholeheartedly with you when you say that we have to listen to our body’s signals. Eat healthily, in moderation when hungry is what I think!
I used to be on many diet plans when I was younger because I was overweight then. I would slim down really fast but also gain weight quickly again. (yo-yo effect).
I found that, like what you suggest, the best way would be to listen to yourself. If your body’s not hungry, don’t eat for the sake of eating….when it is, answer it in moderation. It really works! Thanks for sharing!
Michelle, thank you for sharing your story. Its so great that you are now listening to your body and have gotten off the diet roller coaster. Kudos to you. I like what you said…”eat healthy, in moderation, when hungry! Fantastic!!