This is why you can’t lose weight

I’m (usually) fun at parties, until somebody I’m making small talk with asks me, ‘So, what do you do?’
 

When I say I’m a personal trainer and nutritionist, I feel a bit awkward - like people assume I’m judging them.

Sometimes people will say something like ‘Well I guess you won’t be drinking then’ or ‘I suppose you won’t be having any of these -’ (grabs handful of chips)

And if they say that, I just respond with a quip about how ‘it’s all about balance’ and then the conversation about my work ends. 

Sometimes people do ask me more specific questions, like what my work entails and what I help people with.

That’s when I typically find myself delivering a long-winded, passionate spiel about the shortcomings of diet and wellness culture.

How the health and fitness movement that gained exponential popularity since the 1970s promised to counter the rise of obesity that occurred with the introduction of fast food and ultra-processed food in Western diets.

Except it didn’t, obesity rates have continued to rise despite the prevalence of diets that all claim to help us lose weight.

If diets did what they were supposed to, nobody would be obese because if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.

Diets do work for some people. I’m sure we all know people in real life who’ve lost weight by following a diet plan - you might have as well. 

You can lose weight following just about any diet. It’s true that it does just come down to calories in/calories out.

But if that’s the case, why do so many people struggle to stick to diets, or if they do - why do they so often regain the weight?

It’s because diets don’t teach us how to eat normally.

Diets don’t give us guidelines around existing in an environment where highly palatable, highly caloric foods are the cheapest, most accessible, most convenient and (let’s be honest) most tasty options there are.

We are trying to fight against biological drivers within us that cause us to crave and seek out calorie-dense foods high in sugar and fat, a mechanism evolved for our survival as a species. 

We are trying to fight against food companies that work with chemists to hack our neurological reward systems to create foods that stimulate a dopamine response and addiction-like outcomes, causing us to crave and eat as much of their product as possible.

These foods are easy to replicate and mass produce, which means they can be sold at a low price point, encouraging us to eat more and they can sell as many products as possible.

We trade time for money to make a living. We’re chronically exhausted and depleted with little time for social activities, hobbies or rest. Convenience food allows us to conserve energy we’ve already spent on work. It can perk us up and provide a small sense of joy in an otherwise boring, stressful or soul-crushing 40-hour (+) work week.

The industrial and economic climate we’ve constructed over the last 50 years is the reason why obesity is so prevalent - not because we haven’t been following diets strictly enough. 

Trying to diet is like trying to swim against a rip in Piha. Maybe those with a strong motivational driver and a good accountability system can do it, but it’s nowhere near a majority.

Though I’m aware that I sound pessimistic about dieting - I’m not - I just think that it’s important to approach dieting with this perspective in mind so that we can be more compassionate with ourselves if we find that we’re a part of that majority that really struggle with being in a caloric deficit. 

So for this group of people, I encourage them to explore what focusing on nutrition separately from weight loss might look like. Mindful eating, meal prepping, making time to cook dinner or eat breakfast, adding in fruits and vegetables or more balanced meals.

Sometimes it’s more about learning how to incorporate the foods that diet culture tells us to avoid (fast food, processed food) so that we don’t end up bingeing when they’re in front of us.

Eating ‘normally’ is different from dieting. But we need to know how to eat ‘normally’ (a way of eating that supports our health, is flexible and doesn’t cause us any stress) if we want to ever be able to diet successfully.

You can see how I’m fun at parties, right?

If you’ve gotten to this part - I appreciate you for hearing my rant, and I hope it gives some context as to why I approach nutrition the way I do. 

If you’re in a bit of a pickle with your eating habits and potentially want to lose weight as well - I’d encourage you to think about whether you’re truly in a good position to diet, or whether it’s your ‘normal’ eating habits that need working on instead.

Sometimes we turn to dieting because we want to feel a sense of control over how we eat.

It’s human nature to thrive off routine, and dieting forces us into one. But dieting isn’t the only way to have a routine and sometimes it’s just not the right solution for us, especially if we’re caught in a binge-restrict cycle or experiencing regular episodes of overeating. 

If this is you, I’d encourage you to brainstorm ways to feel supported and nourished through your diet, that aren’t about restricting foods or cutting calories.

As always, I’m here to chat if you have questions or would like to run through with me what that could look like.

Have a lovely weekend!
 

Take care,

Lx