Doing Away with Diet Culture

 

Our Losing.Living.Loving Wellness group talked about Diet Culture and Mindset today. It really resonated with me because I am so immersed in it. How do you crawl out of the toxic pit that is Diet Culture after so many years of living it? 

This past year especially I have been working on my self confidence and body positivity. I feel like I am making strides. I am learning to accept parts of me that I hated to even look at before. The mom pooch, the loose, saddle bag skin on my upper, inner thighs. Notice I said "accept". I am not in love just yet. Maybe I'll never be, but for me acceptance is a big step. 

For a lot of us we have spent years of having family, friends, coworkers, society, strangers and now social media enable and fuel our insecurities. We have allowed the common belief that if you don't have a perfect body, skin, hair and features that you aren't worthy of love, not even from yourself! This applies to everyone! We all have an image of what we hold our selves to. It's unhealthy. 

I'm not saying I am going to just start livin' la vida loca. Everyone has to do what is right for them, because no one can help you live your best life, that is up to you. For some of us that will still include being active every day, not over indulging everyday but not skipping out on ice cream dates with the fam or nachos and beer on a patio with friends. It will be about balance and learning. Learning that it is ok to still enjoy life, enjoy the food, the fun and not feel the guilt. 

This shift in gears is not easy, as I said, for a lot of us we have had years of practice when it comes to being our worst critics. Turning that mindset around is not going to happen over night but its not to say that it can't happen. 

We need to turn this mindset around. Instead of "I was so bad this weekend"...how about "I had so much fun this weekend". 10 years from now, what will you remember? What will your kids remember? I can tell you your friends, your loved ones are not going to remember the jiggle in your step, your belly bouncing, the cellulite and stretch marks. They are going to remember how much fun they had with you, the memories you made together - and guess what? SO WILL YOU. Stop wasting time and start living.