Fitness Articles

No More Dieting!
(Dieting Ideas for You or Someone You are Concerned About)
By Jill C. Eilenberger LCSW, LMFT


Dieting along with distorted body image, the drive for thinness, and low self-esteem all contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Without dieting, eating disorders rarely develop. In countries where there is not a lot of television there is a lower incidence of disordered eating. 

Dieting is ineffective, expensive, time consuming and contributes to a pattern of restrictive eating and later overeating. It is helpful to interrupt dieting in adolescents and young adults. Many young ladies begin dieting in adolescence but many are not overweight. 

A mass indoctrination begins in elementary school age children of what a girl needs to look like when she grows up in order to
be lovable (Barbie dolls, magazines, billboards, posters,
television and movies.) 

Once an eating disorder is established it is a habit, a way of life that is very difficult to overcome. It is important to identify eating disorders in adolescents before it becomes a way of life. As soon as disordered eating is identified it should be interrupted. 

Dieting should be interrupted. The opposite side of dieting is bingeing or chaotic eating. Ask yourself or your friend "Are you
dieting?" "Are you thinking if you were only thinner you
would be happier?" Challenge yourself or your friend on this
notion. 

This theme is called the game of "Change my shape, and change my life." Tell yourself or your friend to learn and practice good nutrition, to consistently choose low fat foods, without any attempt at calorie restriction and instead to focus on hunger signals and satiety signals.

Tell yourself or your friend to focus more on getting some
sensible exercise everyday. 

Some helpful magazines are Grace, More and Oprah. Grace
magazines have models sizes 12, 14, 16. Most women in the
United States are a size 12, 14 or 16. More magazines are
written for women ages 40 and over to help women feel okay
about aging. Oprah magazine has a variety of models.

Discard magazines such as Vogue and Bazaar and others that
have very emaciated models. Adolescents perceive models and
actresses as ideals and easily take on those appearances as
their goal. 

Dieting in adolescence is unnecessary. Promote good nutrition, reliance on hunger and satiety cues, and enjoyable daily exercise.

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Jill Eilenberger is a Personal Life Coach and psychotherapist. Jill is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Marital and Family Therapist.  To learn more about Jill go to www.conquercompulsiveeating.com.  You can email Jill at jeilenberger@carolina.rr.com or dial 704-344-9891. 

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