CosBeauty_Magazine_-_November_2019

(coco) #1
http://www.cosbeauty.com.au 113

diet is tightly linked to weight loss
and restrictive eating, which can lead
to body image issues, body shaming,
eating disorders and other mental
health issues.
After seeing first-hand just how
detrimental being fixated on a specific
diet could be for your mental health,
I personally refuse to use the word
‘diet’ in my vocabulary. Instead, my
approach to food is to live life in
balance, focusing on micro-nutrients
just as much as macro-nutrients,
being active, being conscious about
how much sugar is in pre-packaged
snacks, looking after your mind, and
most of all, getting guidance from a
qualified professional when you feel
you need help with your health.
What scares me even more about
the ‘weight loss industry’ is the shift
from the word ‘diet. The word has
been replaced with clever marketing
spin, coining up new names like keto,
Atkins, paleo, no grains and so on.
Now, that is not to say that I don’t
think ‘diets’ don’t work, that isn’t the
point of this article. My point is that
the word ‘diet’ has been manipulated
over the years to represent something
much more than what you are eating;
it now in my opinion, can lead to
an array of mental health and body
image issues.
With summer fast approaching,
it is so easy to fall into the idea
of a quick summer shred. But
rather than a quick fix that will
result in restrictions, here are my
tips for a year-round healthy lifestyle
that is manageable.

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