It is this time of the year again, when we make our New Year’s resolutions and very likely, they are in one or more ways connected to our “health”. I heard it already last week, while wishes of Happy New Year circulated in the office. This colleague and that colleague mentioning or even proudly proclaiming: “My plan is to eat healthy next year!” or “I will finally exercise regularly!”.
For most of us, Ney Year’s resolutions obviously do not last beyond January. Unfortunately, some of us will fall for one or more miracle cures, diets, or lifestyle programs. Sadly, even if their limited research claims amazing short-term results, most of them will fail in the long term. The weight science is merciless in that respect – 95% or more of us will not only revert to our usual eating and movement habits but gain weight as a result and possibly damage our health*.
All the diet and fitness gurus go out with force as soon as the year ends. They promote their services everywhere – free first month of gym memberships, free 4-week online nutrition course, free first order of the weight-loss supplement that is guaranteed to work, right? Some of these offers are less obviously harmful than others. Usually there is nothing wrong with joining a gym or learning more about nutrition (although, don’t we already know everything there is to know about good nutrition with the information readily accessible online for free?).
However, the offers circulating out there often promise miraculous results – they entice you with the vision of the “new year – new you”. Their short-term focus is shocking and their placing the blame on their clients, if even the short-term results are not achieved is shameful. Yet, many of us will be convinced by these snake oil sellers again and again. We will waste our time, our money, and even our health. Worst yet – we will again take the blame for failing to achieve our New Year’s resolutions.
This year, I propose we change our habit of trusting in miracle solutions to our “problems”. Instead, let’s make more positive intentions – to be kinder, to be braver, and to be smarter. Let’s listen to our kind and compassionate internal voice more than to our critical and judgmental one. Let’s look for the weight neutral ways of taking care of our physical, mental, and emotional health. They are more difficult to find – like a needle in a haystack sometimes – but they are out there.
If you are looking for some anti-diet resources, that could help convince you to follow a different path than everyone else, here are my all-time favorites (in no particular oder):
- Reclaiming Body Trust by Hilary Kinavey and Dana Sturtevant
- Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
- The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
- Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon
- Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
There are many more great books and resources that I use in my coaching practice – so get in touch if you are curious to find out more.
May you find peace, joy, and love in 2023 and beyond – Happy New Year!
* Research studies are contradictory on this topic (heart damage was shown in rat studies but not human studies – note though that human studies have always smaller sample sizes and we are not really able to conduct proper double-blind randomized experiments on human populations)
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