Let me share a little secret with you…Diets Don’t Work, SURPRISE?!

I have been dieting most of my life.  The first time an adult told me, “you’d be so pretty if you lost a little weight” I was 7. Yep…seven years old.

Needless to say, that started a life long abusive relationship with food.

My struggle with food is mostly emotional. Food makes me happy, literally! It’s my drug. I eat to cope with emotion and treat anxiety. I instantly feel better when the pleasure centers of my brain are activated by food, then deeply regret my food choices…especially when I step on the scale. Of course, That makes me want to do it all over again.  It’s a viscous cycle…

I’m fully aware of my addiction. That’s the first step, right?!

I’ve realized that gluttony does not become me and I am working on forgiving myself while trying to figure out how to be nutritionally healthy.

I am in no way shape or form trying to make a mockery of AA or any 12 step program. The steps work and I’m simply applying them to my addiction. After all, wellness is not just physical! It begins in the heart and mind.

I have not yet conquered my addiction, however, I know I can not win this fight while dieting.

Diets I have tried include, but probably not limited to:

Weight Watchers(this was before oprah and the online version, the meetings were humiliating), low carb(great concept but I get REALLY cranky and nobody wants that), carb cycling(if I were disciplined enough this would probably work great) calorie deprivation(this is a sure fire way for me to gain more weight), a million cleanses and countless meal replacement shakes. They all work…for a sec. I might lose 10-20, maybe even 30 pounds. But the diet isn’t sustainable and eventually I fail, falling back into the old habits.

So what does work?

That’s a good question!

I think each person has to find a nutrition lifestyle that nourishes their body. I’m going to go out a limb and say, no two people are the same.  But guess what?! Our bodies are amazing! They tell us what we need…IF we can learn how to listen. I’m still learning!!!

My nutrition lifestyle currently includes: lots of lean protein, veggies,  fruit (yep…lots and lots of fruit, turns out it’s a delicious sweet treat😜), good carbs (😮 rice, sweet potatoes, quinoa, beans, oats…the list goes on), fat (that’s a scary word), kombucha and bone broth (those last 2 might sound a little strange but they are amazing).  I try to buy organic.  Things I try to stay away from: pasta, bread and refined sugar.  I watch my portions, binge eating is in the past (I hope).

This may not be revolutionary but for me it’s a huge step in the right direction!

I’m going to keep searching for the best version of me. I’m going to be kind to myself, forgive myself and above all, love myself.

Join me on my quest to be nutritionally healthy!