Do you really need to diet?

Filed in archive Diet & Fitness on February 1, 2007

I have dieted almost every day of my adult life and it's all been for vanity, I must admit. Getting fed up with the -so popular nowadays- skinny look I am wondering how come I never thought of getting slimmer because of health issues. Thankfully, I have reached my goal weight and just have to maintain it now, but to all you plus size Goddesses: You don't have to get slimmer to be healthier.

MSNBC writes:

"People of all sizes and shapes can reduce their risk of poor health by adopting a healthier lifestyle," Dr Erika Borkoles, of Leeds Metropolitan University in England, told a news conference.
Borkoles and her colleagues, who are presenting their research at the UK Society of Behavioral Medicine meeting, tested the program that focuses on health benefits rather than weight loss on 62 obese women.
Although the average weight loss was small, from 239 lbs. to 233.7 lbs., after a year on the program, the women showed improvements in their self image, were fitter and less stressed."

Te good doctor has shown that shifting focus from slimming to getting healthier worked wonders for the research group of obese women of all ages. The women were thought how to eat healthier, to do mild recreation (such as aqua-aerobic) and to get rid of unnecessary stress, most of them lost some weight over the year but were in a much better physical and psychological condition.

Next time you start a diet think twice: do you really want to fit in the size 6 skirt or would you be better off with making healthier choices to avoid illnesses? Over the years of dieting I have tried everything there is, and my goal, my motivation, has always been fitting into that designer dress, turning heads or looking smashing in my bikini. Those are not bad goals, but have brought me so much stress and disappointment when I 'fell off the wagon', which is as every pro dieter knows, inevitable sooner or later.

My point here is: stop obsessing about weight and start thinking health. As all the smart girls know, beauty is a relative thing, we have as a civilization gone from extremely obese to the painfully skinny beauty idols in a short time, so it's just not worth the fuss. Your large nose might be the center of all sorrow, but as I see it, the ordinary perky ones are getting rather boring. The J.Lo phenomenon has promoted big behind as a real asset, and this is bound to happen will happen with all other body parts sooner than later. The more we hate our bodies the more unhealthy we become.

Instead, take your dog /cat / friend / iPod for a walk. Nibble on apples instead of chocolate chip cookies and drink water instead of soda. Forget about potatoes and concentrate on green vegetables. Be healthy and pretty my darlings! Our lives are so much more than size 6!