Ditching Diet Culture
Why it’s SO toxic, and five easy ways to truly live a healthy lifestyle.
by GABBY MUSSALLI ★ DECEMBER 31, 2020
TW: This piece discusses dieting, relationships with food, calories, and weight.
Keto, low-carb, Whole30, intermittent fasting, Paleo—you name it. Just like the constantly changing fads in fashion we all love to cling to, diet fads come and go. The promises of obtaining the “perfect” body and “boosting your confidence” pull so many of us in, yet the toxic culture these diets create often work against us, encouraging unhealthy relationships with food, body image issues, and plummeting confidence—the opposite of what was promised. As college students, diet culture can feel like the norm. We at UGirl want to help you ditch this mindset and offer some tips on creating healthy eating and exercise habits because if you do it right, you’ll be able to eat those fries at XO tonight without feeling like you need to spend four hours at the gym tomorrow.
DRINK YOUR WATER.
I know this sounds so cliché, but drink your water! I personally struggle with drinking water and have learned the hard way how important this basic necessity is. Knowing how much you need is simple, take your body weight and divide it in half—this is how many ounces of water you should be drinking at a minimum each day. If you want to drink more than that, major props to you! One easy trick that helps me keep my water intake up is to keep a large reusable water bottle filled and near me at all times during my day. It’s necessary to stay hydrated throughout the day so that our bodies can keep up with all that we’re doing.
Credit: somewherelately.com
CARBS ARE NOT THE DEVIL
Food shouldn’t be the enemy here. Food is fuel, and it’s something diet culture teaches us to suppress our love for. You can workout on the stair-stepper all you want, but if you aren’t also filling up on nutritious foods, I promise you won’t see the changes you want to see—so yes, carbs are good for you! When picking a meal, you can add volume with lots of greens while also making sure there is some kind of protein to keep you satisfied. Lastly, don’t be fooled that just because it’s “healthy” means it can’t possibly taste good. The trick here is to find what works for you. Stick to foods and recipes that you look forward to making and enjoying so it hardly feels like a sacrifice.
Credit: gimmedelicious.com
GET IN A DAILY SWEAT, EVEN IF IT’S QUICK
Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. If the thought of walking into a gym scares you, don’t let that stop you from getting a daily workout in. Get outside, go for a walk or run, or roll out a yoga mat at home and find a no-equipment workout video on YouTube. This can give your brain a necessary break to help you feel more energized and productive. Bottom line—less obsessing over how many calories your Apple Watch tells you you’re burning, and more focusing on doing what feels right for your body, even if you can only set aside 30 minutes (or less) of your day to get it done. Something is always better than nothing!
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DON’T RESTRICT YOURSELF
Restricting yourself is probably the worst thing you can do if you’re trying to lose weight or work toward a healthier lifestyle. Telling yourself all the things you absolutely cannot eat or drink will just make you want them that much more. You will likely find yourself eating those very things when the cravings come at midnight—which only ends in self-guilt. Treating yourself every once in a while won’t put a damper on your progress, and you’ll find that it’s actually better for your mental health in the long run. Listening to what your body wants and needs will fulfill you so much more than marrying a diet plan created by someone else. Your body knows best—trust it!
Credit: Pinterest
THROW OUT THE SCALE
The scale is not your best friend, and I promise you didn’t lose weight since the last time you walked over to it 15 minutes ago. Progress pictures will often help you confidently plug away at your goals. Our weight naturally fluctuates at all hours of the day, and putting so much pressure on a single number is only going to disappoint you. Instead, the better measure of your progress is to focus on how you feel and the progress you see in the mirror. Be patient—progress will come, and you will hopefully learn to love the process of becoming the healthiest version of yourself, instead of obsessing over the result!
If you’re still reading, here are some of my favorite creators on TikTok who promote holistic, healthy, positive lifestyles and will give you lots of meal and workout inspo!
@rebeccaaleigh
@nataliaaseliger
@han.jarr
@katelynnnolann
@lexxhidalgo
Improving fitness is a common new year’s resolution, so as we look to 2021 let’s be kind to our bodies and pursue our goals safely. You’ve got this!
Cover photo credit: Pinterest