Content warning: this article discusses dieting & eating disorders
Diet culture is “a system of social beliefs and expectations that values thinness above all,” according to an article by Equip, a company that treats eating disorders.
Smaller, smaller, smaller. That is all society wants women to be (although I’m not saying this doesn’t apply to men as well — women are simply subject to this issue at a greater level). Metaphorical, no?
Women are constantly demanded to be “less” by the long-standing patriarchal standards in our society. This idea has become so ingrained in our minds that we now see women oppressing other women for the same reasons (shout out to that aunt at those family gatherings who would comment on our bodies!).
Essentially, diet culture has formed from our own ideals of what we should be. Combined with the influx of photoshopped images of women on social media, it has a serious impact on the way we perceive ourselves. How can we help it? It’s everywhere!
The only way I have found we can change diet culture is to ignore it. If you stop giving something your attention, it loses its importance.
This means unfollowing Instagram accounts that don’t serve you, donating clothes that aren’t your size anymore, and practicing affirmations that remind you of your worth.
You are not defined by your weight. You are defined by the way you treat yourself and others. We are privileged enough to have healthy bodies that have been nothing but there for us, through thick and thin. They deserve more than our disapproval!
One of my favorite quotes ever is from the film, Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts. I vividly remember the scene where she says:
“Let me ask you something, in all the years that you have … undressed in front of a gentleman, has he ever asked you to leave? Has he ever walked out and left? No? It’s because he doesn’t care! He’s in a room with a naked girl, he just won the lottery. I am so tired of saying no, waking up in the morning and recalling every single thing I ate the day before, counting every calorie I consumed so I know just how much self-loathing to take into the shower. I’m going for it. I have no interest in being obese, I’m just through with the guilt. So this is what I’m going to do, I’m going to finish this pizza, and then we are going to go watch the soccer game, and tomorrow we are going to go on a little date and buy ourselves some bigger jeans.”
Yeah. That hit me hard.
My point is, the holidays are a time of celebration, joy, and thankfulness. Whether you are spending time with your family, friends, a significant other, or just yourself, you deserve to make the most of these moments. Yes, YOU.
Give yourself some love this season and allow yourself to do and eat what makes you the happiest! For me, I know that’s going to be my sister’s and my late-night warm apple cobbler with ice cream on Thanksgiving — pure bliss.
Say goodbye to guilt and hello to delicious holiday food!
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