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By Katja Heino Leave a Comment
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5 Reasons To Give Up Dieting This Year

5 Reasons to Give Up Dieting This Year savorylotus.com

It’s the New Year.  Time to make those resolutions. Another promise to yourself to get healthy.  Another promise to go on that diet. Right? What if I told you that you are better off not dieting?  Would I be your new best friend?  I’m here to share with you today 5 Reasons to Give Up Dieting This Year.

The diet industry is a mutli-million dollar industry in this country.  Gym memberships sky rocket this time of year.  Someone is promising that they have the next “miracle” diet that will solve all of your health and weight issues.  But I am here to let you off the hook this year.  Dieting is NOT good for you.  It actually is unhealthy, and I urge you to resolve to give up dieting for your New Year’s resolution.  And here are 5 reasons why:

#1 Dieting damages our metabolism:

Having a healthy, nourished metabolism is crucial for every function in your body, including healthy hormonal balance.  It is not uncommon for folks who have dieted for long periods of time to suffer from insomnia, poor digestion, thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue, and hormonal imbalances.  See THIS or THIS to learn more about  healing and maintaining a healthy metabolism.

#2 Dieting actually increases weight gain in the long run:

Long term deprivation and restriction leads the body to believe it is “starving” and triggers it to hold on for dear life to those extra pounds.  A study in Finland showed that dieting itself, independent of genetics, is significantly associated with accelerated weight gain and increased the risk of becoming overweight.

And that feeling of hunger that arises from restrictive dieting is actually your body signaling you that you are deprived of essential nutrients.  No wonder binge eating is common during times of dieting.

#3 Counting calories is useless in achieving AND maintaining a healthy weight:

Your body knows what it needs.  When we eat nutrient dense, whole foods with adequate amounts of good quality fats, carbs, and protein the body receives all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs.  You will feel full and satisfied and not have the urge to over eat.  The opposite is true, as well.  With a diet of processed foods lacking in enough fats, carbs, protein, and calories, the body will feel hungry.  Your brain knows that your nutrient requirements have not been met.  Counting calories leads to this restrictive kind of eating and in the long run is NOT a sustainable way of eating.  A calorie is NOT realistic or useful way to measure the value of food. It does not tell you whether the food contains essential vitamins and minerals to nourish the body.  Healthy eating is about quality, not quantity.  Focus on real food that is unprocessed and nutrient dense.  Your body will thank you.

#4 Dieting creates an unhealthy relationship with food:

Eating is supposed to be enjoyable.  It involves the sense of taste, smell, and sight.  When we get into a cycle of guilt and punishment around the foods we eat, our relationship with the foods we eat is altered.  Feeling a sense of shame or stress around food can lead to digestive issues and increases in stress hormones that can lead to other health issues.  Imagine if we were OK with eating fats and carbs.  Read more HERE about why saturated fats are actually good for you.

And we haven’t even discussed the issue of body image that plagues most women in our culture.  What would it be like if every woman could love her body?  What would it be like if the standard of beauty was not an unrealistic ideal?  Read more HERE about learning to love your body.

#5 Dieting only addresses one part of the equation when it comes to vital living:

Dieting makes food the focus of maintaining a healthy weight.  Yes, what you eat has an impact on weight loss.  But what about exercise, stress management, and proper sleep? Being healthy involves a lifestyle change, not the next miracle diet.  Taking a look at all the factors that affect our bodies is key.  Did you know that you will die from lack of sleep before you die from starvation?  How many of us get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep on a regular basis.  Did you know that stress increases your risk for putting on the pounds?  Increased stress hormones like cortisol are associated with increased appetite, cravings for sugar, and weight gain.  What do you do in your life to manage stress?  And are you moving your body?  Regular, moderate exercise decreases blood pressure, relieves stress, reduces body weight, improves mood, and builds self-confidence.

Need some resources to getting healthy without dieting?  Check out these great books for loosing weight naturally, nourishing your metabolism, staying fit, and healthy detoxing:

  • Have Your Cake and Lose Weight Too by Danelle Wolford
  • The Nourished Metabolism by Elizabeth Walling
  • Real Fit at Every Age by Julie de Lagarde
  • 3 Weeks to Vitality by Mary Vance

So, I’m here to let you off the hook this New Year.  Let’s all resolve to give up dieting for good.

Want to learn more?  Check out these great posts on why dieting doesn’t work:

The Dangers Of Dieting
The Problem with Counting Calories
7 Reasons Diets Don’t Work
Diet Interrupted: A Blessing in Disquise

4 Reason You’re Not Losing Weight
7 Weight Loss Mistakes
Counting Nutrients, Not Calories
25 Things I’ve Learned

Top 10 Dangers of Counting Calories
Bacon and Butter and Weight Loss, Oh My!
The Secret to Lasting Weight Loss
Why Counting Calories is Bogus (and How to Really Lose Weight)

The Myth of the Calorie (and Why I Don’t Count Them)
Why Fat Doesn’t Make You Fat
What If Fat Doesn’t Make You Fat?

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Hi I’m Katja!

And this is how we do healthy in our family. Just REAL food. Simple. Easy. Gluten free. More about Savory Lotus

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🍋 🍋 LEMON POPPY SEED DONUTS • when life gi 🍋 🍋 LEMON POPPY SEED DONUTS • when life gives you a bag of lemons, you make the best of it • even though we prioritize healthy eating, there’s room for treats like these • we call it balance 😉 • baking is one of my favorite things to do with my little one👩‍🍳 • we’ve had a year solid of being home, distance learning, + missing being out in the world • baking is one of those small pockets of JOY that brightens our daily life ☀️☀️

🍋 🍋 light and fluffy (gluten and grain free) donuts dipped them in a sweet lemony glaze • the bright lemon flavor kinda adds a bit of sunshine to the day 🍋☀️🍋

🍋 🍋 recipe link in bio (and i linked the donut pan that i use in the post): https://www.savorylotus.com/lemon-poppy-seed-donuts-gluten-free-and-grain-free/
sauerkraut • love it? hate it? • it’s one of sauerkraut • love it? hate it? • it’s one of the easier + most cost effective ways to support your gut • i make it every couple of months • its easy once you understand the basics of fermentation • i have a step by step tutorial if you’re ready to dive in ✨✨

link to tutorial in bio : https://www.savorylotus.com/easy-sauerkraut-recipe/

what you’ll need:
cabbage
salt
1/2 gallon wide mouth mason jar (or you can use 2 wide mouth quart sized jars)
air-tight fermentation lid
🥕🌿🍠 veggie game strong today • crucifer 🥕🌿🍠 veggie game strong today • cruciferous vegetable = superfoods • this + sweet potato rounds + a big cup of bone broth is what’s up for dinner 

collard green
green cabbage
purple cabbage 
carrot 
tons of fresh ginger 

👉 and, yes, not everyone tolerates cruciferous vegetables • i didn’t used too • i’ve done a lot of work on my gut + digestion • and i still prefer them cooked as they are easier to digest • eat slowly • give thanks (gratitude has a positive effect on the nervous system) • chew well (so your body can release all the enzymes needed to digest your food) ❤️• it’s so so important to eat in a relaxed environment so the body can rest + digest • eating while in “hurry” mode leads to indigestion and poor absorption
simple dinner • we eat wild salmon 🐟 once a w simple dinner • we eat wild salmon 🐟 once a week to get in those omega 3s • my favorite way to cook it is to sprinkle with salt + a bit of ghee on top + broil it for 8-9 minutes • so easy + today we added steamed green beans + a cauliflower + romanesco mash • plus tons of olive oil + ghee

to make cauliflower + romanesco mash, add florets from one head of each to a large pot • add in 1 cup of bone broth + sprinkle with a bit of salt • cover with lid • steam florets in broth until tender, adding more broth if bottom runs dry • once florets are very tender, add lots of ghee or butter + salt to taste • purée smooth with an immersion blender • add more broth to make it creamy smooth • so good 💛• don’t forget to add a ghee (or butter) pool when serving 

when we can’t get wild, local salmon, we order from @vitalchoice
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