A life without diet rules.

Does that title sound like a relief?

Last December I started reading a book called Intuitive Eating, by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch (the recommendation came from a person I was following on Instagram @hannahlouisejacobi).

This book confirmed everything I had ever suspected about the diet industry. Hooked, I also read Just Eat It by Laura Thomas PhD. Again, could not be more refreshing.

What I suspected about the diet industry.

That ‘we’ are being exploited. The very premise of marketing is that you understand your customer. That you preempt their needs and provide solutions with your product. The diet industry does this very well.

In our current culture, women being as small as possible is perceived to be healthy and attractive, these two qualities are our greatest trait.

It’s prioritised above how successful we are in our careers, how kind we are to our friends and family. Our physical abilities, being able to run, jump or touch our toes. Our intelligence, ability to absorb information and turn in to something useful, to strategize and problem solve. Our emotional intelligence, having empathy for those around us, to be adaptable and resilient in changing situations.

For some reason, none of this is as important as being small if not tiny.

The diet industry has what it needs. Play on this ideal that being small and attractive is the most important thing, that once you achieve that life will become fun, exciting and free from the stresses of everyday life.

Life is exciting and fun, no matter what size you are. You will still be loved by your friends and family and you can still try a new skill or go on a summer holiday.

I have found that once I stopped critiquing myself for how much I did or didn’t eat, what I did or didn’t eat, I focused more on other activities in my life. I enjoyed the company of my friends and family more, I relaxed a lot more, food tasted better than it ever had and I ate a more varied diet. I felt like trying different foods and being more experimental. Which are all things the diet industry imply are wrong and it’s not just the diet companies themselves, its in how we talk to one another about food.

Having ‘good days’ and not eating certain things because they’re ‘naughty’. This is deprivation, it’s not imposed upon us by law it’s something we choose to take part in. I refuse to take part in this line of conversation when it starts because for me it provides ammunition to my self-doubt. And self-doubt didn’t get me a career change, a degree in or teach me how to throw 30kg and catch it above my head.

How diet culture fueled the negative perception I had of myself.

Listening to friends of mine talk about being on diets used to make me think I needed to be on one, that I was missing out. They were following all these new rules and were getting excited about trying new recipes or sharing how hungry they were but that they could manage. And I, along with others applauded them for this. Look at how well they’re doing, they’re trying so hard, living through self-inflicted depravity. This must make them so strong and so amazing.

In response to this, I would look in the mirror and try to find my faults. My thighs were large, my tummy poked out, my boobs were large and wobbled, my arms wobbled, my tummy wobbled, my bum was too big, my face was too big. These thoughts would occupy my mind multiple times per day, seven days per week. If I wasn’t thinking about what I looked like I was concerned with what I ate. When was I going to eat next, should I be eating, what was I going to eating, was that good or bad? What would other people think or say about my choices.

The knock-on effect from this is that I didn’t feel capable at work, at social occasions I was more occupied with what people thought about me rather than enjoying the occasion. As a result, everything around me felt negative and I lacked inspiration and creativity.

Living with this new knowledge.

Relief. Space. Creativity. Positivity.

I do sometimes feel like an alien or that I’m swimming against the tide but I will stick with it because I feel so much better about myself.

Not getting caught up in negative thoughts about my own appearance has given me things like time, space, energy for other things.

I spend time planning to see friends, going out for dinner, trying new activities like weightlifting. Whilst I might be nervous at times, it’s not thoughts about my appearance that are holding me back. I’m not waiting until I’m size 12 before I clothes shopping. I’m not waiting for my tummy to be firmer before I book a summer holiday. And this is so liberating!

I’ve gone on to set up my own business – Taskmaster Fitness. That is home to two of my own creations that I feel do serve people and give them what they want without creating a lack of self-worth.

My HIIT & Chat classes are a place to get your sweat and get your heart rate up. This helps your immune system, improves your heart health, reduces the risk of Type II diabetes and can clear a muddled, over-thinking mind.

My second idea is to support women with osteoporosis. Especially those that want to reverse the condition and not rely on drugs for the long term. Through a review of their nutrition and the exercise we set them up for building bone and reducing the risk of trips and falls. This enables them to keep the current lifestyle they have for as long as they can.

My top tip and take way step from this article. If you have Instagram, review who you are following, how do they make you feel? Try following some of these accounts. I can’t recommend them highly enough and ditch all those ones with transformational body image photos.

There will be hundreds more I’m sure, this is a good start and do let me know which ones you find.

@tallyrye

@hannahlouisejocaobi

@alexlight_ldn

@diets_dont_work_haes

@antidietriotclub

@fatgirl.hiking

@deadlifts_and_redlips

@emmafitnessphd

@thephitcoach

@laurenslatercoaching