The Dieting Traffic Jam

Think about driving a car. You hop in the car hoping to reach your destination with no issues along the way. Ideally, the roads are wide open, all the traffic lights are green, and no one is trying to aggressively cut you off from two lanes over. But realistically, when you go somewhere, at least one of those things is bound to go wrong. Heavy traffic, endless red lights, and hostile drivers tend to complicate what you otherwise thought was a routine trip.

When we think of dieting, we hope for the optimistic driving scenario, where reaching a weight loss goal is achievable with few barriers: quick results without much effort. But in actuality, the physical and mental highs and lows of dieting make it more like the realistic driving scenario. 

If you’ve experienced these obstacles, you are not alone. Even the most “successful” dieters face challenges associated with dieting over time. Take, for example, the contestants from the Biggest Loser. Participants were challenged to lose weight over a seven to eight month time period with the help of trainers and doctors. Six years following the conclusion of the show, participants were asked to participate in a follow-up study. Of the 16 who were originally recruited, 14 people completed the follow-up. Approximately 70% of the weight lost was regained over the six years, and participants experienced lower Resting Metabolic Rates (RMR) than what would be expected at their weights and ages. Though the sample size was extremely small, researchers warned that slow metabolic adaptation undermines efforts to quickly lose weight.

Even the intensity of the diet doesn't really impact long-term results. Some popular diet companies like to say that gradual weight loss is more effective than quick, crash diets. This is simply not true. In one study of 60 people, participants were placed on either a low-calorie diet (500 calories per day over five days) or a very low-calorie diet (1250 calories per day over 12 days). Researchers found that at follow-up, 9 months after the conclusion of the study, participants from both groups regained on average more than 50% of the weight they lost. Though low-calorie diets appear to resemble healthy lifestyles, they are just as ineffective as crash diets. 

These studies show that dieting practices do not lead to sustainable results. In addition to physical complications, dieting can induce psychological stress. From frustrations with calorie restrictions to the feelings of guilt for “giving in” to cravings, dieting can send anyone on an emotional roller coaster. Furthermore, not seeing the aspired-to number on the scale repeatedly can break anyone’s spirits. 

It’s time to liken dieting to a big traffic: irritating, headache-inducing, and no clear way to go. It’s bad for our physical, emotional, and mental health. If you yearn for open roads, contact a local, non-diet dietitian about an approach that addresses your goals and all of the facets of your health.

A Beginner’s Guide to Intuitive Eating

Intuitive Eating (IE) is a tenable framework that builds on the intricate relationship between physical and emotional health. By using its ten principles as a guide, you can learn to remove the obstacles that prohibit you from meeting your biological and psychological needs. Below is an IE principle in bold and a beginner’s way to practice it in italics.

Diet culture penetrates our lives – there are so many books written that tout quick weight loss solutions. Each time you see a new, trendy diet emerge, reject the diet mentality.  

Ignore the short-lived fad diets. Invest your time in learning about intuitive eating.

Honoring your hunger is necessary to meet your body’s biological needs. Denying yourself food now may lead to overeating later.  

When your stomach grumbles, it’s telling you that you’re hungry! To replenish your energy demands, grab your favorite snack. 

Give up the fight and make peace with food. Allow yourself to eat without restrictions to reduce negative attributes associated with food.

The next time you’re craving something, don’t deprive yourself of it.

It’s normal to categorize food as good vs. bad, but it can create unreasonable rules. Challenge the food police by quelling these contrived restrictions.

Write down the restrictions you place upon yourself when it comes to type and quantity of food. Think about where you heard about these rules and what purpose they really serve.

Realize the pleasures associated with eating, and how that pleasure engenders satisfaction. In time, focusing on the vicarious qualities will help you realize when you’ve had enough.  

Keep a list of your favorite foods, and think: why do I love them and how much do I need to feel gratified?

Just like hunger signals, we have satiety signals. Acknowledge the ways in which you feel full.

Pause in the middle of a meal and assess the food’s taste and your current hunger level.

Food may temporarily ease uncomfortable feelings and emotions; however, it ultimately won’t solve them. It’s important to identify the sources of these emotions, and how emotional hunger may only make you feel worse in the long run. Thus, cope with your emotions with kindness.

When you’re feeling down, brainstorm the causes of these emotions through journaling. Rather than ignoring them, address the source or plan an activity to clear your mind.

Respecting your body is the first step to feeling better about yourself. Celebrate body diversity and reject unrealistic body size standards.

Every morning, name one quality you love about yourself. Ask a friend for suggestions if you have trouble. 

The feelings derived from exercise are more sustainable than its calorie-burning effects. When you are moving, feel the difference.

Try a new form of movement and record the feelings you experience.

Gentle nutrition is the key to honoring your health. Eating well doesn’t have to be rigid. Overall dietary patterns reflect flexibility and balance in food choices.

Examine your grocery list: Is there variety in there? Pick foods that are diverse in color (orange vs. yellow) and kind (protein vs. whole grains).

Benefits of Intuitive Eating

Whether you are new to intuitive eating or have been an intuitive eater for many years, getting in touch with your body and your internal cues is perhaps the most beneficial thing you can do for both your physical and mental health. We all know how mentally and physically draining dieting can be. Meal planning exact portions, weighing food, and counting calories. Feeling like you can’t enjoy your favorite foods, or have fun in social settings because your diet is so limited. Dieting is a mental mind game that nobody enjoys playing. On top of that, dieting is also physically exhausting! Trying to live and thrive on a calorie deficit just leaves us feeling irritable, moody, and tired all the time. Intuitive eating introduces a whole new perspective on health and wellness that is energizing, refreshing, and sustainable long-term. Intuitive eating is one of the best things you can do for both your physical and mental health. 

Dieting doesn't only drain your energy, it drains your wallet as well! Think about how much money you could end up spending on various diet plans and weight loss products. The health and fitness industry is currently valued at over 2.3 billion dollars. These companies prey on our insecurities in order to target us with overpriced, gimmicky weight loss products that aren’t sustainable and aren't focused on our health as a whole. When you embrace intuitive eating, you reject the mindset that you need to rely on some kind of rigid diet plan to achieve optimal health and reach your goals. Trust yourself, and your body, not the companies making false promises in order to sell their product. 

Perhaps the biggest benefit of intuitive eating is that it is flexible, it works for you and your lifestyle. You don't need to worry about points or calories, counting grams of carbs or proteins, or buying special diet foods. When you learn to eat intuitively, you get to truly live your life to the absolute fullest; never feeling like you have to deprive yourself or miss out on social settings because you are limited from your diet. When you approach food from a dieting perspective, food becomes an enemy and every meal is a battle zone. Dieting sucks the enjoyment out of food and eating. But eating should not be so complicated and frustrating. When you approach food from an intuitive eating perspective, meals become an enjoyable way of honoring and taking care of yourself and your body. Instead of trying to force yourself to not desire certain foods, or trying to limit yourself to tiny portions, you get to truly enjoy the food and the atmosphere around you. 

Have questions about becoming an Intuitive Eater? Book a free discovery call below.

Why Work with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?

As a non-diet Registered Dietitian, I help ambitious young professionals learn how to nourish themselves without tracking calories, points, or macros, so they can feel free around food, achieve optimal health without focusing on the number on the scale, and get their life ready to build a family and career instead.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are trained to provide tailored recommendations and Medical Nutrition Therapy to help you improve your lifestyle. RDNs have an extensive background in nutrition science, successfully completed a one year accredited internship, passed a board exam, and maintain continuing education units to stay up to date with current research. All nutrition recommendations are evidence-based and individualized.

When working with an RDN, nutrition counseling sessions include helpful resources, small actionable steps, goal setting, and email support between sessions.

Unlike nutritionists or health coaches, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) can accept health insurance as they are licensed providers.

When looking for a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, check their website to ensure they have these qualifications.

For example, here are my qualifications:
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Licensed Dietitian in the State of Massachusetts

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Nutrition Emphasis, Ithaca College
Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion, Simmons College
Dietetic Internship, Sodexo

10 Simple Ways to Lower Your Triglycerides Through Lifestyle

1.  Work with a Registered Dietitian to guide you with gradual and sustainable weight loss.

2. Enjoy the “Whole-y” grain! Choose whole grain bread, pasta, and rice instead of white bread, rice, and pasta. Limit foods and beverages that are high in sugar.

3. Emphasize unsweetened beverages – water, tea, seltzer, coffee (without cream and sugar), instead of regular soda, sweetened tea, and coffee.

4. Increase nut intake namely almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, pistachios.

5. Eat throughout the day - don’t go too long without eating.

6. Drink and eat fat-free (skim) or low-fat dairy products. Consider mixing skim with 1% if you prefer not drinking skim alone.

7. Engage in moderate-intense physical activity for 30 minutes per day on most days of the week or a total of 150 minutes per week – Lets find a routine that works for YOU!

8. Increase unsaturated fat intake (olive oil, nuts, avocados, vegetable oils, and fatty fish). Increase nut intake namely almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, pistachios.

9. Eat fatty fish twice per week (fatty fish includes: salmon, sardines, tuna and mackerel to name a few).

10. Choose mostly plant-based protein or lean meats (chicken without skin, fish, lean beef, pork, veal) instead of bacon, hot dogs, or sausage.

    For a more personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan, book an appointment here.  

Deliciously Sweet (And Healthy) After-dinner Treat!

What are your favorite after dinner sweet treats? Let me know in the comments.
Spoiler alert - planning healthy meals and snacks does NOT have to be time consuming or complicated! 

This simple combo takes less than 5 minutes to throw together AND checks the satisfaction box!

Here’s what to do:

1) Rinse a bowl of strawberries (stem on).
2) Drizzle agave on top of plain Greek yogurt.
3) Dip the strawberries into the Greek yogurt mixture and enjoy a flavorful and healthy after dinner treat!