Diets, resolutions, and body image: my rant.

I’m a little frustrated this morning. With three things.

It’s the second week of January, so many people are in full swing with trying to conquer their resolutions, and I’m seeing a lot of what I don’t like to see.

I’ve been trying to figure out how to write this post, because it may or may not spark some controversy – because let’s face it, as bloggers we can find ourselves surprised over the reactions to our posts. (Most of the time, the posts I see as a bit boring end up being the ones with the most reaction. Weird.)

Frustration #1. The mocking of “resolutioners”. I find it incredibly annoying when anyone, fit or unfit, professional or not, ridicules the attempts of others at making changes in their lives. The New Year has always been a time when people harness the feeling of having a ‘fresh slate’. Sure, many of us find that resolutions tend to be short-winded, but resolutions are simply goals with a different name. Someone making a resolution, and announcing that resolution, is no different than anyone else publicizing their goals at any other time of year. “Resolutioners” have set goals, and people who sets goals have already taken the first step at recognizing a problem, have placed it center-stage, and have a desire to make positive changes in their lives. Just like anyone else who sets goals. Instead of making fun of all the people that flock to your gym and cackling about how they’ll all disappear in a month, become a part of their support system, why don’t you? I dare you to help someone become one less “resolutioner” that falls short of crushing their goal. If you see someone new in the gym, instead of mocking them, befriend them, support them, and help them discover that change cannot simply happen in a month. I’m so sick of watching otherwise motivating, inspiring people turn into such negative, righteous “been there, done that, watch ‘em fail, we’ll get our gym back in a month”, well, assholes.

Frustration #2. Fitness professionals that use their looks to “boost motivation” in their clients. Stop making this all about the “perfect” body!!! I’ve found that most people who have worked out or “dieted” simply for a “hot body to reach the ultimate hot body, fail. They’re doing it wrong. Yes, we all want great bodies. (I know I do.) What I want more is to live a long, healthy life watching my children grow up living long, healthy lives (with strong, positive body images – not ones in which they strive to look like someone else). I’m not saying to never strive for the fun, physical benefits. Just don’t make it your top priority. It’s much easier to lose focus and become discouraged trying to have some else’s body than it is if you focus on how great you’re feeling and how healthy you’re becoming. When you center your goals around a particular “perfect” body image, you’ll find yourself feeling a wee bit discouraged when your best looks nothing like someone else’s best. We’re all molded differently. Different genetics. I didn’t realize that we’re all made from the same cookie-cutter. Professionals who focus on image and perfection and the superficial aspect of weight loss make me angry. The country is suffering from more preventable chronic diseases and from obesity now than ever before, and all they’re worried about is how you look? Body perfection is booming right now and we’re getting sicker, and sicker, and sicker. Stop pounding into your clients’ heads that they should be focusing on not being “fat and ugly” and start pounding into their heads that we’re dying from this problem. Starting pounding into their heads that they have the ability to do anything. Stop making them wish to become something other than themselves!! Man! I wish I had known then what I know now

Frustration #3. Diets. Stop. They don’t work. (And I’m getting tired of seeing health and fitness professionals helping to market them!!!) There are no “secrets” to weight loss. There are no “secrets” that your doctors are hiding from you. There are no miracle pills or powders that can help you shed inches. There are no pills or powders that can help you become massive. Contrary to what those lovely diet companies tell you…

…no, you cannot eat a whole pizza for dinner, because you had their revolutionary shakes for breakfast and lunch.

…no, you cannot eat a hot dog, an ice cream cone, a bowl of nachos, and a large-sized fry just because you sprinkled on their powder.

…no, you cannot lose 30 pounds on (insert every diet pill on the market here) by eating whatever you want, never moving your body, and making no changes to your lifestyle whatsoever.

If you’re eating food that doesn’t spoil, you’re not eating real food. If you’re drinking a powder (*cough* chemical shit-storm) mixed in milk or water, you’re not eating real food. If you’re drinking six diet sodas, sure, you’re not consuming extra calories, but you’re tricking your body into believing it’s getting some sort of nutrition out of what just poured past your lips and when it finds it’s not, it starts scrounging for nutrients and makes you hungrier. Stop. Please. The diet industry is booming, still, and obesity is rising, still. How does that make sense? If you can’t give me the answers as to why a diet’s going to work for you (without reading back to me word-for-word what the box/bottle says), then maybe it’s not such a good idea.

Sigh. I hate when people think they have the “miracle” that everyone’s looking for, knowing well enough that they don’t. Assholes. If the miracles we all bought back in 1996 had worked like they said they would, we’d be the thinnest, healthiest damn country in the world! But we’re not.

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Can you tell I’m a wee bit frustrated? Good. I feel better now. I may not be perfect, but I’ll remain atop that soapbox for quite a long time. Haha.