I once had a client who referred their co-worker to see me for weight loss. The co-worker told my client that they had an appointment with me the following week, and commented that they should eat all their favorite foods now because I would likely tell them they couldn’t eat them anymore. My client’s response was priceless, “Oh no, she is not that kind of dietitian!”
When I’m meeting people for the first time and they discover I am a Registered Dietitian they often launch into a monologue about their newest diet, their weight history, what they ate so far that day, and how they’ve recently heard from Dr. Oz that we should all be avoiding x, y, and z foods (Insert eye roll). I’ve been an RD for almost a decade (that makes me feel old) and I was lucky enough to know that I did not want to go the clinical (medical hospital setting) nutrition route…just not my personality. I thrived in the mental/behavioral health field where things are not so black and white…I like the grey area 🙂 Anyways, based on my past relationship with food (I promise to get more into this soon) I knew I wanted to get into into eating disorder work and I was lucky enough to land my dream job as a brand new dietitian! I worked with extremely ill adolescents and adults suffering from acute eating disorders in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting. I had the challenging (yet rewarding) job of refeeding and providing proper nutrition education to these clients and their families. The intense fear of food and calories, or guilt and shame associated with food these clients endured was devastating to witness. After 4.5 years of working in an inpatient setting, I started to branch out and slowly build my private practice. Having this experience as my foundation shaped the type of nutrition services I would offer my private practice clients.
OK so I’m an “anti-diet” or “non-diet” dietitian…does this mean anything goes food wise and you shouldn’t put any effort into improving your nutrition status? If you’ve been follow along on Wellness Wednesday you know this is not the case, and I’m all about promoting ways to get amazing and nutritious foods in your body… BUT I also believe in balance and living your life. This means I believe you can have health goals like trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and that doesn’t mean you have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy like pizza or ice cream. Having a “no” list will only make you obsess and crave those food even more!
Lets take a step back for a sec. The definition of a diet is simply the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. People follow certain diets for a variety of reasons based on religion, culture, ethical reasons, food tolerances or preferences. Somehow the term ‘diet’ has evolved into a word implying restriction and/or weight loss and which is actually fad diet. There are an endless amount of fad diets on the market which do not work…plain and simple. Not only do they not work, but can also be at the root of many problems. Lets look at current trends…obesity is higher than ever in adults and children and eating disorders are on the rise. There are also more diet products than ever on the market. Coincidence? Fad diets and easy access to junk science nutrition information has caused so much confusion about food and nutrition. It doesn’t need to be so complicated really.
Have you ever tried a fad diet before? In the beginning you’re feeling “good” and “accomplished” because you’re able to follow the strict regimen. This form of short-term starvation may work in achieving weight loss, but eventually the diet will end and what have you learned? This way of eating is typically not sustainable long term, so you return to old behaviors, and the weight usually comes back – plus some! Eating after you’ve “finished” your diet may feel intense or out of control. This is a normal response to starving your body, which we also know as dieting. This leaves you feeling powerless and reinforces the idea that you need to be on a diet to manage your intake and weight, perpetuating the dieting cycle. Dieting slowly erodes your trust in yourself with food. Many clients come to me after being on numerous diets and talk about being a “failure,” but the truth is the diet has failed them!
There is no need for an external source to guide your eating. We all have the innate ability to eat intuitively; however, that ability has likely been buried over the years. Chronic dieting has likely left you with a decreased metabolism, increased preoccupation with food, feeling deprived, confused and hopeless.
In the beginning, my clients who are seeking weight loss have a difficult time accepting the fact that I am NOT going to provide them with a new “diet plan” to follow. I explain that the focus of weight loss must be put on the back burner while their relationship with food and their body is repaired. Getting my clients to not view food as something bad or scary, but rather a fascinating tool when used properly (which is what our sessions will focus on) can be challenging and frustrating at times. For the clients that stick with me on this journey there tends to be a magical moment when things click. There is a shift and clients notice that they have more energy, less preoccupation with food, less binge eating, improved cognition and mood, better sleep, clearer skin, and heck maybe even some weight loss in the process 😉
Disclaimer
All information on the The Champagne Theory blog, including but not limited to information about nutrition, health and fitness, is intended for general or background purposes only, and not as medical advice applicable to any individual. Please consult your medical provider or providers for instructions specific to your own medical concerns and condition.
