{HMW} The Hidden Costs of Chronic Dieting
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Dear Reader, Ever noticed how the diet industry thrives on your hunger? Not just physical hunger, but the emotional craving for acceptance, The mental hunger for simplicity, And the spiritual hunger for peace while living in your body. Here's something I learned after years of working with clients (and my own personal dieting history): The diet industry needs you to stay hungry β literally and figuratively β to survive. But you don't need to starve yourself to thrive. β The Cycle That Feeds the MachineThe diet industry operates on a brilliantly simple business model: promise quick results, deliver temporary changes, ensure eventual failure, then offer the next "solution" when you inevitably return. When I worked at a national weight management company for 13 years, I saw this cycle repeatedly. People would lose weight quickly through strict calorie restriction and then gain it back just as fast. The same faces would return year after year, blaming themselves rather than the fundamentally flawed approach. β What's Really Being Starved?When you're constantly dieting, you're not just restricting calories. You're also starving: β‘οΈ Your intuition: That internal wisdom about what your body actually needs β‘οΈYour mental bandwidth: Decision fatigue from counting, measuring, and weighing β‘οΈYour emotional wellbeing: The joy of eating without guilt or anxiety β‘οΈYour connection: To your body's natural hunger and fullness signals One client told me, "I was so focused on following food rules that I completely lost the ability to tell when I was actually hungry or full." β Feeding Yourself, Starving the SystemDisrupting this cycle doesn't mean abandoning health β it means redefining it beyond weight. Here's how to start: 1. Recognize False ScarcityDiet culture thrives on creating fear around food. Notice when you're eating something not because it's enjoyable but because "this is your only chance" or "you won't be 'allowed' to have it tomorrow." 2. Practice Mindful SatisfactionInstead of racing through meals, take time to savor each bite. When you actually taste and experience your food, you often need less to feel satisfied. This isn't about restriction β it's about amplifying pleasure. 3. Remove the Moral LabelsFood isn't "good" or "bad," and neither are you for eating it. When we detach moral judgment from eating, we can make choices based on what truly nourishes us rather than what we "should" or "shouldn't" have. 4. Build Stress ResilienceChronic stress drives emotional eating and makes intuitive choices nearly impossible. Learning specific techniques to regulate your nervous system creates space between triggers and responses. 5. Learn to Hear and then Trust Your Body's WisdomYour body knows what it needs. The challenge is quieting the external noise enough to hear it. This takes practice, but it's a skill that can be developed with the right support. True food freedom isn't about eating whatever you want without consequences. It's about releasing the mental tug-of-war that keeps you trapped in cycles of restriction and rebellion. β If this resonates with you and you want to learn more about the "how", let's chat! Book your free 30-minute call here.β β β Have it: Interesting Article Alert: 5 Science-Backed Longevity Hacks that Don't Cost a Fortune (gift article π) β I just got this adorable halter wrap dress in 3 colors (huge discount) for our upcoming Switzerland trip and I think I'm in love with this new online shop. β β Made it: β5-Senses Sunday:β Ever wonder why cilantro tastes heavenly to some and like soap to others? Or why some people love the smell of gasoline while others gag? π«’ This week, we're diving into how wildly different our senses can be β and why itβs so fascinating. π₯ππΆ βRead this week's edition, here.β β Want it: I'm looking for a really good quality, comfy walking shoe that can be a slip on sneaker situation like this, or Fit Flops or anything else. Any suggestions? Last year in Sweden we walked 10 miles a day and my sneakers didn't cut it. β β Ingredient Spotlight: Maple Syrup Maple syrup isn't just for pancakes anymore! This amber elixir brings complex flavor with notes of caramel, vanilla, and a subtle woodsy essence that refined sugar simply can't match. What makes maple syrup special is its lower glycemic index compared to cane sugar, meaning it won't spike your blood sugar as dramatically. It's also packed with minerals like manganese, zinc, calcium, and potassiumβnutrients you won't find in processed sweeteners. In the kitchen, maple syrup shines as a 1:1 substitute for cane sugar in most baked goods (just reduce other liquids by about 3 tablespoons per cup of syrup). It adds depth to everything from morning oatmeal to roasted vegetables, salad dressings, and marinades. Try these 32 sweet and savory recipes featuring Maple Syrupβ β Announcements & Upcoming: My interview with Dyana Terranova at the Busy Working Mom's Summit goes live tomorrow - May 1st. We had a great conversation about how busy and often overwhelmed mom's can learn mindful eating and meal planning techniques to help curb emotional and stress eating. You can register here for the summit!β β Reminder: My new pay-what-you-can product shop is open. I'm adding new tools and resources in there every week. I'm going to start doing little product highlights over the next few months as well. Check out the shop and Thanks for your support! β Extra Bytes: What I'm Reading: The Expectation Effect by David Robsonβ What I'm Watching: White Lotus, season 3 - episodes 3&4 (when does it get juicy??) What I'm Listening to: The Overwhelmed Brain Podcastβ What I'm Eating: Tangy Tandoori Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Mango & Carrot Friesβ That's it for me this week. I hope you all have a happy and healthy hump day. Warmly, Jenny β PS. ICYMI - My book, The Body Image Blueprint, is finally available as an audiobook!β |