The Privilege of Dieting
Disclaimer: When I talk about dieting, I'm referring to the concept of modifying eating habits for the purpose of meeting a specific health/fitness goal. I am not a proponent of fad dieting. I encourage moderate, progressive lifestyle changes. Establishing new habits takes time, so setting realistic goals is important. I also don't have a black and white view of food; I teach and practice moderation. But for people with specific, time-based health and fitness goals, diligence and sacrifice is par for the course.
"The first 3 letters of the word 'diet' spell DIE. I know you’ve probably heard that joke before. It humorously depicts how dreadful dieting can be. In addition to physical discomfort, there is also the psychological distress of restriction and avoidance. A deprivation mindset will lead to feelings of resentment.
Your body actually hates dieting just as much as you do. Hormonal changes occur when you decrease your calories. These changes may cause you to feel lethargic, angry, depressed (or HANGRY). This is especially true if you abuse dieting, but that's another topic altogether.
Our bodies are designed to ensure survival, and that includes ensuring there is enough fat on our bodies to endure famine. Fat is the body’s insurance against starvation. So the fact that food makes us feel good is not merely psychological, but also physiological. Let's face it, eating the foods we love is rewarding on several levels. It's the reason food is such a big part of our social activities. But sometimes we get carried away with unhealthy eating habits and must choose to implement some changes. And while this doesn't always feel like the exciting thing to do, we don't have to go about it begrudgingly. Despite the difficulties and discomfort of dieting, we tend to forget it is a privilege.
The fact of the matter is, modifying our food choices in ANY way is a privilege. It's a privilege because there are millions of people around the world who cannot exercise the amount of control we can when it comes to our food intake. From what we eat and how often, to when we eat and how much, we are in complete control. Meanwhile, there are those who don't know where their next meal will come from. The moment I think to complain about a diet or meal plan, I remind myself that it’s a choice, not a chore, and I reflect on this choice in gratitude.
Does this mean that you should love the discomfort of enforcing a few restrictions for the sake of your health and well-being? HELL YEAH! Talk about a first world problem! Of course you should implement changes that make sense (don't starve yourself or follow a ridiculous diet plan), but progress can only be made with consistent effort (note: consistent effort, NOT perfection).
I know it's not like me to say this, but sometimes we just need to suck it up and do what needs to be done if we're going to get what we want. This is true for all areas of life. At some point, we have to acknowledge there will be some challenges and sacrifices to be made, but in every moment we can choose our attitude towards the process. I choose to feel grateful for the opportunity to make those sacrifices.
It is a privilege to decide you'll stop eating in excess of your body's energy needs. There is absolutely nothing to complain about. It may be uncomfortable. It may not always feel pleasurable. But it's still a choice you GET to make.
You GET to eat better. You GET to take care of your body. You GET to choose. You are blessed.
And you are worthy.
<3
