NotDieting.com: Media, Schmedia....

12 March 2008

Media, Schmedia....

Some of you may be thinking: who is this crazy nut that is not dieting for one year?

Well, this crazy nut is 28 years old and has spent more than half her life on a diet. In fact, this is the first time since I was 12 that I have been NotDieting for any period of time. Since the age of 12 my life can be placed in two categories, dieting and overeating after the diet.

Strangely, I have never been overweight. I remember reading my mom's Vogue magazines when I was 7 or 8 years old and hoping, praying that one day I would be as beautiful as the models in the picture. I thought they must have perfect lives, filled with happiness and love. My own mom always told me I was beautiful and gave me lots of love, but the glossy pages were too seductive.

I don't blame the magazines themselves. I'm sure there are plenty of young girls who have glanced through the very same pages I once did without feeling completely inadequate. Aren't there? Anyway, I often wonder what would happen if I hadn't been exposed to media that glorifies physical perfection. Well, my skin would be pretty pasty because I'd have to live underground in order for that to happen! Today it is more prevalent then ever and equally dangerous.

I, too, like to live dangerously and I suspect that if you have made it to the bottom of this article, so do you. Let's blow this diet pop stand together and have a life filled with happiness and love, our way.

1 comments:

Daners Isadora said...: Seriously, I applaud you. And here's to you!; 23 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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