Critical Thinking about Anti-Diet Messages
“This intuitive eating thing is BS, I tried it and it didn’t work.”
Sound familiar? Trust me, you’re not alone. Today we’re talking about another hot topic that’s been buzzing all over social media, popping up in emails and filling my DMs.
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That’s right, we’re talking about critical thinking in the realm of anti-diet messaging.
Now, before you roll your eyes and think, "Oh great, another lecture on why diets are the devil," hang tight. I’m here to give you a fresh perspective on intuitive eating, anti-diet culture, and eating disorder recovery.
Spoiler alert: it’s not all rainbows and unicorns.
We've come a long way from the relentless diet culture that shoved weight loss down our throats. But here’s the thing: swinging to the extreme of intuitive eating without a solid plan can feel just as chaotic.
What happens when the freedom of intuitive eating starts to feel like you're free-falling without a safety net? You guessed it – it gets messy. So let’s explore how to find a balance between structure and flexibility, and why sometimes, a little structure is exactly what we need to avoid chaos.
In this episode, I’m discussing:
The need for critical thinking when approaching anti-diet messaging and intuitive eating.
The evolution from diet-centric messages to more inclusive and mindful approaches.
The challenge of discerning which advice to follow from social media and other sources, especially when presented by professionals.
The problem with adopting anti-diet messaging as an absolute truth.
The risk of swinging from one extreme to another and the importance of individualizing your approach to food and eating.
The misconception that intuitive eating is purely about flexibility.
How to start trusting yourself and maintaining internal control, rather than feeling chaotic around food.
The necessity of consistent and adequate eating as a foundation for reducing chaos and feeling safe around food.
Practical advice on incorporating fear foods in a controlled, portioned way to build trust and reduce anxiety.
The complexity of anti-diet messaging and the importance of considering diverse perspectives, rather than adopting a black-and-white stance.
Acknowledging that healing your relationship with food is beneficial but not a universal solution for all issues related to food and body image.
Tweetable Quotes
"I love the fact that intuitive eating and anti-diet messaging is out there and becoming a little bit more accepted." - Rachelle Heinemann
"If you don't feel like you can trust yourself around food, then having pints of ice cream in your freezer will not feel safe." - Rachelle Heinemann
"The most important thing [you can do] to develop structure is to eat consistently and eat enough." - Rachelle Heinemann
"If you are not currently having breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and two to three snacks a day, throw the intuitive eating book in the back of your closet and don't take it out until you are doing that." - Rachelle Heinemann
"Healing one's relationship with food will not heal all for every single person." - Rachelle Heinemann
Resources
Grab the Replay of the Resistance in Treatment Webinar
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Related Episodes
Episode 131. Real Nutrition Information Minus the Shame with Claire Chewning RDN
Episode 115. How To Recover When Everyone Around You Is Dieting
Episode 104. How Anti-Diet Culture Became Like Diet Culture with Jessica Brown
Episode 94. Unraveling the Truth: It's Not About the Food
Episode 87. Ultra Processed Food, Food Addiction and Eating Disorders with Dr. David Wiss
Episode 54. When Intuitive Eating Isn’t The Answer with Laura Pumillo MA, RDN, CDN, CEDRD-S
Episode 46. Intuitive Eating Gone Wrong with Leah Kern, RD
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Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
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