If you know me, you know my thoughts on diet culture, and you probably already know how this post is going to go.
This is definitely going to be one of my, I’m not really trying to write a polished piece because I just want to word vomit, kind of posts, so bare with me.
Diet culture as a whole is the reason I developed an eating disorder and an exercise addiction in high school. It breaks my heart to know that, that’s a story you more than likely know all too well.
When you’re young and impressionable, and you want to look like societies idea of beauty, you listen to people who have no authority to tell you what to do.
You listen to the bloggers that tell you low-calorie diets are the way to go. You listen to the YouTube influencers that tell you your stomach is the size of your fist so you HAVE to eat 5 small meals a day. You listen to the magazines that tell you how to get your favorite model’s body.
“When you’re young and impressionable, and you want to look like societies idea of beauty, you listen to people who have no authority to tell you what to do.”
Then when the holiday season comes around, figuring out when to have your “cheat day” becomes the biggest mathematical equation you’ve ever had to solve. And if you’re like me, you won’t eat enough all week, and then binge the minute you see a Christmas cookie.
I am so thankful that I grew out of that, and that I was able to develop a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and myself. But being a fitness instructor, I see far too many fitness professionals preaching things that pull people into the diet culture vacuum.
I’ll see fellow instructors telling people to eat on smaller plate so you trick your mind into being satisfied, to choose if you want to indulge on dinner, dessert, OR alcohol, to burn off the holiday calories, to avoid the extra bread, the list goes on.
The thought of people feeling like they can’t enjoy their holiday meal because they’re too busy thinking about the calories or about what their spin instructor told them about overindulging, makes me shake with anger. But it also makes me feel ashamed to be a part of the same community as some of these people.
I’m not here to tell you, you have my “permission” to eat whatever you want during the holidays, you shouldn’t care what I think.
“You don’t have to take two workout classes that morning so you can drink that second cup of eggnog.”
I just want to remind people that you don’t have to starve yourself all day, because you know that you’re going to have a big holiday feast for dinner. You don’t have to skip the pumpkin pie, because you wanted the mashed potatoes. You don’t have to take two workout classes that morning so you can drink that second cup of eggnog.
When you’re starving your body before a big meal, your body doesn’t know that. It just knows that it’s starving and has to go into survival mode. And when you add on strenuous workouts, you’re going to BURN OUT.
My biggest thing as a fitness instructor is getting people to reframe their minds about why they workout. It shouldn’t be about looking a certain way, or burning calories to “make room” for food. It should be about how it makes you feel. How it clears your mind. How it makes you stronger mentally and physically.
And please for the love of gods, do not make a “healthy” version of your grandma’s famous apple pie. Make the foods you enjoy. Eat the foods you enjoy. There is no “good” food and “bad” food. All food gives us energy, it is sustenance. We need to eat to live, to allow our bodies to function properly.
“All food gives us energy, it is sustenance. We need to eat to live, to allow our bodies to function properly.”
I know it’s a sensitive topic, trust me, I’ve been there more than once. My diet culture brain still tries to convince me it know better than I do every once in a while, but the holidays only happen once a year. Enjoy them, and focus on how you feel. Think more about your happiness and the memories you’re making. Think about how lucky you are to enjoy all of the nourishing food and drinks! Think about the stomach cramping laughter you’re so thankful to share with your friends.
If you’re unlearning these yucky habits, just take baby steps. Maybe eat one fear food, or skip your workout that morning. The little things will add up, and if you ever need someone to just talk to, I’m more than happy to listen. I’m just one Instagram DM away.
xx