A Cultured Pearl

Don’t Knock It ‘Til You Diet

Posted on January 21st, 2016

Disclaimer: Before I jump in, I would ask all of you to consider whether reading this post is a good idea for you. For some of you, it might not be constructive or helpful to hear about body confidence, exercise, dieting, etc. There are times when I click out of posts just like these for my own well-being, so I just want to give you the opportunity to do so now. Here’s a puppy to look at instead; I’ll see you back here again soon!

I’ve thought for several months about this post. On the one hand, I’m not an expert by any means. I’m just me, and I only have my own story. But I do feel my story is accessible and relatable, and lots of the dieting and fitness world is not. It feels like there is a whole aesthetic and lifestyle overhaul required with making this kind of life change, and frankly, it’s intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be like that, and I wanted to share with anyone who needs reassurance and a dose of realism, whether you’re approaching a new resolution or need a nudge to continue your own journey.

On May 3, 2011, I realized I was unhealthy. The realization happened suddenly, but the lifestyle did not. It was the end of my freshman year, and while I had gained the “freshman 15,” I had also gained the “12th grade 20.” Which isn’t really a thing, but it was for me. I worked out lightly approximately two times a week, and was not at all mindful with my nutrition decisions. I just didn’t feel good. I went home for the summer ready to make a change.

I consulted a nutritionist at first– I had struggled with a disordered relationship with food a few years prior, and wanted to make sure I stayed clear of bad habits– and jumped in. The beginning was so hard. I woke up at 6:30am and used the elliptical five days a week, and I walked three miles with my mom after dinner every night. I counted my calories carefully, and stopped drinking Diet Coke (that didn’t last!). By the end of the summer, I had lost twelve pounds, and already felt much, much better.

About six months in I started running, which warrants a post all its own. I still remember how excited I was the first time I ran three miles consecutively. It was a lot harder to track calories while at school, but I managed to lose 10 pounds that year. The next 10 pounds, however, took 18 months. I wasn’t always making dieting a priority, but I worked out six days a week, and I knew I was in a healthy place, so I was not concerned, but there was always the nagging in the back of my mind that I could do more.

This year, I did, and I have lost another 10 pounds– unsurprisingly, the hardest of them all. I still run six days a week, but my eating needed a little attention. I ended up consulting a nutritionist again, whose one simple directive changed my approach and freed me from counting calories. “If you think you’re feeling hungry,” she said, “ask yourself if you would eat a lightly dressed spinach salad right now. If the answer is yes, you’re hungry. If the answer is no, you’re bored.” (some people use carrots or even apples when asking themselves the same question)

It doesn’t matter what I weighed to start, and it doesn’t matter what I weigh now. Here’s what matters in all of this:

I changed my lifestyle without any gimmicks. I didn’t follow a special diet, I didn’t do a special fitness program. I didn’t give up any foods (although I only eat peanut butter and restaurant pasta a few times a year). I just followed basic physics, and I lost weight because my body used more energy than I consumed.
I went slowly because I wanted to work with my metabolism, not against it. It’s been hard to be patient! It took me 42 months to get to my goal weight. But (other than normal fluctuations) the scale hasn’t gone back up, and my weight won’t yo-yo. I fueled my body in such a way that I changed its set point without starving it.
I didn’t let this change completely dictate my life. I still go out with friends to dinner on the weekends, and I always work out before my day starts to make sure I never have to choose between the gym and whatever else comes up in the evenings.

But let me also not sugar coat it– this does require a lot of discipline. I get up at 6am every day to get on the treadmill, and I have only one or two drinks per month.

And I also feel amazing. And strong. And resilient. And proud. I know what I’m capable of, and it’s a lot! My journey isn’t over, and never will be, because my body is something for which I need to care always. It enables me to breathe and move and think and love, and allows me to be me.

If you are just starting your journey, let me assure you that you can do this. It might be hard, and you will be faced with a million daily decisions. Take them one at a time; leave them behind once you make them. Figure out what works for you, and know that it might not be what works for your friend or that fitspo blogger.

You can do this.