BlubberBusters Tips from Lucy

Done with Dieting?

Try a Non-Diet Approach for Weight Loss Success

Who can use it?

If any of these examples sound like you, you may want to
try a non-diet approach to weight loss:

• You have tried so many diets you have lost count. Nothing seems to work!

• You lost weight by doing a certain diet. After you stopped the diet, you gained back all the weight and more!

• You have low self-esteem.

• You eat for comfort.

So, what is it?

• A non-diet method to eating focuses on giving your body what it needs. It does not focus on what your body shouldn't have.

• Many "diets" focus on cutting calories, fat grams, or carbs. This way of eating leads many kids and teens to slow their metabolisms. Some even start to binge eat because they try to diet too much or too hard. This makes some gain weight!

• Food is seen as the solution not the problem!

• Exercise is seen as a way to nurture yourself not punish yourself!

• A non-diet approach does not focus on weight loss. Instead, a person focuses on changing certain ways of eating or activity.

• It is a long term commitment to a healthier body. This method is a commitment to love your body and feed it as best you can.

• Using a non-diet method, you don't need to count anything, starve yourself, or forbid yourself from certain food groups!

How  do I get started?

• A non-diet approach begins with eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full. Many kids and teens use a scale of 1 to 10 to figure out when they are hungry and full. To learn more about using a empty/full scale, click here.

• Many kids and teens say they eat for comfort. Using a non-diet method, find other ways to help feel comfort without food. This takes time and lots of practice. Healing your relationship with food is the most important part of becoming healthier. To read more on healing your relationship with food, click here.

• While using a non-diet approach, you are encouraged not to race to get to a certain weight. Try not to focus too much on the number on the scale. Instead, focus on the positive changes you are making for your body! This way of thinking helps many kids and teens get to their healthy weight. It also helps them not gain weight back! Many people keep a food and activity journal to help focus on this. To learn more about food and activity journaling, click here.

• Lucy will be chatting about non-diet methods to weight loss. Come check out the chat on September 14, 2005. To find more info on chats with Lucy, click here.

  Here are some good books to learn more about non-diet ways to weight loss:

  You Count, Calories Don't by Linda Omichinshi, RD

  Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole, RD and Elyse Resch, RD