Magazines, instagram, movies and tv have always set the trends of the way we ‘should’ look, setting unrealistic expectations for as long as we can remember. Many companies generate profit on creating shakes, diet bars and programs that will get you into that size 6 body frame that was trending in the 90s or the slim thick body that’s trending now. I’m sure if you’re reading this you’ve bought these products before too, and whilst they may generate short term results majority of them fail to provide you with long term health and happiness. 

What is the diet cycle?

The diet cycle is one that uses food restrictions or labels to ‘fix’ a negative emotion or insecurity that we might be dealing with. Perhaps when we fit into that dress size we will be finally satisfied and the problems we’re facing will fade away. This image from Queensland Health perfectly summaries the diet cycle:

How to break the diet cycle

1. Learn to deal with emotions without food

Difficult emotions are a normal part of life and no matter what we do these feelings will continue to come. Coping and processing difficult emotions is how we learn to continue through life even when things aren’t going the way we planned.

 

If these feelings are too overwhelming here are some FREE resources that are sure to help.

Insight Timer App

Great meditation’s within the Insight Timer App

• Sarah Sites’ meditation: Moving Beyond Food and Body Shame
• Christine Coen’s meditation: Tapping for Binge Eating Urges
• Jacqui Prydie’s track: Diet and Exercise Positive Affirmations

 

Mindfulness practices like these move us into the driver’s seat of our minds so that we can make the decisions from a place of awareness and not reaction.

2. Build healthy habits

Restricting and eating too much can make it hard to have a healthy weight. Building habits that promote health in YOUR body is key. Health looks good on everyone and is not defined by a particular size or body shape. Health is also not about ‘good’ foods and ‘bad’ foods, it’s about building a lifestyle that promotes long term longevity and balance so that you can enjoy your time to the fullest.

 

A lifestyle should be something you can stick to long term and focuses on adding not restriction, healthy habits you can ADD to your life:

• 1 nutritious meal each day – for great recipe ideas click here
• 1 intentional movement practice. This can be anything from a 5 minute stretch before bed all the way to a 40 minute HIIT class. What the movement is doesn’t matter, having the intention of moving your body in some way is the point.
• 1 moment of relaxation a day. This could be a few deep breaths in the car after work, a bath, yoga or a full meditation practice. 

 

A great resource to learn how to implement habits that stick is the book ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear.

3. Meet your daily nutritional requirements

Your body needs specific nutrients or building blocks to function and when it doesn’t get what it needs it’ll prompt you to eat more food in an attempt to fill the gap. A diet based on empty calories, that is high calorie foods with no nutritional value, will never make you feel satisfied. 

 

Many natural foods no longer contain the nutrients they once did due to modern farming practices, proper supplementation may be necessary particularly if you’ve dieted before. 

 

We stock quality nutritional supplements that help you reach your daily requirements, a FREE 15 minute consultation can be booked with one of our Naturopaths who can prescribe you a practitioner-grade nutritional supplement to help support your body, reduce cravings, and balance blood sugar. 

 

The diet cycle uses so much of your mental, physical and financial energy yet never delivers on what it promises. The tips we provided today are general advice only that will be helpful for everyone. If you want a more personalised approach booking an appointment with one of our expert Naturopaths will educate you on what healthy looks like for YOU.

Invest in yourself this year you’ll never regret it!