Why We Need To Stop Dieting
Commentary on unsustainable restrictive eating patterns.

We have all been there before. That feeling of being desperate to lose weight, being willing to do absolutely everything and anything to hit our "goal". We eat less. We lose weight, and after a short while, our bodies begin to rebel. Many of us have rode this up and down waves that come with fad diets. A vicious cycle in which we determine our self worth and acceptance based on the number we see on the scale, or how many calories we consume. I'm sure we can all agree on one thing: Dieting is simply not sustainable.
We establish an unhealthy relationship with food
Fad diets lead to deprivation and starvation. We become fearful of food, and allow food to control us. This can lead to emotional eating, and a lot more problems down the road.
We establish an unhealthy relationship with our bodies
Fad diets cause us to lose touch with our bodies. We begin to neglect what our bodies need, and our hunger goes unnoticed. We start punishing and rewarding our bodies based on what we have lost, or gained. This can lead us farther away from body acceptance and food freedom.
We lose optimal functions
Fad diets deprive us of necessary vitamins and minerals needed for proper bodily functions. This compromises things like digestion, immunity, skin and hair health, and much more.
We do not maintain balanced blood sugar levels
Fad diets throw our blood sugar way out of whack. This can lead to fatigue, hunger, weight gain, and mood swings.
They simply don't work!
Fad diets are only a temporary solution, and become extremely demotivating as time goes on. They lead us to believe we lack self control, which is simply not the case. True, lasting change comes from building sustainable habits — not restriction.
Allison Sherkin, RHN
Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Menopause Practitioner specializing in women's hormonal health, sustainable weight loss, and digestive wellness. Read her story