IF DIETS DON’T WORK… WHAT NOW?
It’s easy to be tempted to go on a diet to try to lose weight.
In fact, in the culture that we live in, I don’t blame anyone for trying a weight-loss diet in the hope that it will help them in some way.
Powerful messages… from Dr Rick’s series of empowerment cards.
But I am passionate about the fact that weight-loss diets don’t work for almost everyone who tries them, and causes harm for many.
I am also passionate about the need to bring an end to the weight-loss industry (or as Deb Burgard from www.bodypositive.com aptly calls it, “the weight cycling industry”).
And the end will come, sooner or later.
Why is the end of the weight loss industry coming? Because people are starting to read between the lies. The facts, the results, and the effects of the weight-loss industry are becoming overwhelmingly clear.
Here are just a few facts to try on for size.
Weight-loss dieting doesn’t work.
A review of a prominent weight-loss company published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2007 showed that of 60,000 of their clients, after one year, only 6.6% were still participating in the program!
Furthermore, an extensive review of all existing studies following dieters for at least two years found that: “In sum, there is little support for the notion that diets lead to lasting weight loss or health benefits.” (Mann et al. 2007) .
One of my patients described dieting as like “chasing rainbows”, another patient “like building a house of cards, with one puff, it all falls over”.
Weight loss dieting leads to weight GAIN for many.
In a 10-year international study that looked at more than 1700 middle school and high school students published in 2012, Neumark-Sztainer found: “Girls who reported any dieting during the study had significantly greater weight gain after 10 years than girls who did not.”
In another study looking at twins, also published in 2012, it was found that “frequent intentional weight losses reflect susceptibility to weight gain, rendering dieters prone to future weight gain”.
As one of my patients said to me, she “kept finding her lost weight… and everyone else’s!”.
Weight loss dieting is the most common pathway to developing an eating disorder.
Patton described in his research: “Adolescent females who diet at a severe level are 18 times more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who do not diet”.
As one of my patients told me: “I have struggled with eating issues since I was nine years old when I first started a ‘Health Club’ at Primary School. This mainly involved throwing away our lunches and exercising instead of eating.”
So what CAN we do?
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73 Responses to this article
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Lynne May 30, 2012
Overeaters Anonymous is a support group that recognises that for many people certain foods and behaviours triggers an addictive reaction that plays severe havoc with our mind,never mind our bodies. I have been in the program for many years and prior to that not only did I spend my life dieting & starving myself but tried many different self-help strategies. I had to find something that worked because living with a food addiction was a hellish experience for me. It is the only program that I have found to work. It’s not a quick fix but it can be a permanent one.
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blue May 31, 2012
Hi Lynne,
I’m a cyclic dieter — not being able to maintain a healthy weight, overeating, then dieting (often because the doctors tell me to) and always ending up a little heavier then when I first started each diet. I did go to an Overeaters Annonymous meeting once but I was totally freaked by the fact that I was the only fat person there. Possibly it was reflective of people who had worked on themselves successfully to a point that they could maintain their weights at healthy, and maybe I should have seen it that way. But all I felt really was too fat to be there. And was very conscious that there were a number of people in the group who were way too skinny. I left perplexed. And intimidated.
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blue May 31, 2012
Perhaps Lynne you would know of some groups in the eastern suburbs of Sydney that would not be like the one I attended? Or maybe you would know where I could start looking for one?
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Christopher Hang May 30, 2012
Great article. My favourite part was “Practicing working on sustainable changes in our thinking and behaviour rather than focusing on an end-point goal such as our weight.”
I couldn’t agree more with this, what would be ideal is a shift in belief system where by we see unhealthy high-sugar high-fat goods as the disease causing poisons that they are.
If that fundamental belief is put in place, healthy eating and living will become second nature.
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AW May 30, 2012
@Christopher Hang, I think Dr Kausman refers to sometimes and often foods in his book (or something similar, at least), rather than “disease causing poisons”. As someone who has, and still is, battled with food related issues for a long time, I don’t need the extra guilt that comes with that kind of labelling.
I actually do agree with most of your posts, but just wanted to point that out!
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The Huntress May 30, 2012
Nice article. It’s time we took a more holistic approach to health, rather than being guided completely by a series of numbers on a scale. I find it interesting even within my own circle of friends the ones who struggle with weight are the ones who are on the dieting merry-go-round. These ladies aren’t obese by any means, but feel pressured into conforming to a size, rather than focusing on their overall health.
I would be glad to see the end of the diet industry. In my mind they’re a bunch of charlatans taking money from vulnerable people.
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Christopher Hang May 30, 2012
Food for thought, over-eating may be caused by the body seeking nutrients? You could eat a big mac and be physically full, but starving for nutrients, so you reach for more food.
But what what would happen to these over-eaters if they started eating nutrient rich live foods like spinach, broccoli, etc etc, would they then not feel the need to seek nutrients and only over-eat from habit or to fulfil another need (e.g. an emotional need)
What do you think Lynne?
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Christopher Hang May 30, 2012
@Huntress, here here! Bunch of charlatans pimping out terrible products like meal replacement shakes *shudder*
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Phil Barker May 30, 2012
This article is a total outrage peddling hate and loathing.
It seems, with its sinister mentions of “non-hungry eating” and “moving your body in an enjoyable way” to be pushing the thin-privilege hate thinking that there’s something wrong with being absolutely gigantic.
I’m proudly completely enormous and it’s not my fault. It’s got nothing to do with what it eat. It’s just how I am, despite what the hater charlatans of the so-called “medical profession” may say, thin-prilege bastards.
We should embrace our fat. Love it. It’s who we are. How dare anyone imply we should be any other way. How my body is is no-one’s business but my own, including the person in the plane seat beside me.
I’m huge and I love it. Get outta my way or get trampled!
Oh, and Overeaters Anonymous! What a totally disgusting organisation. How dare they imply we’re huge because we overeat. It’s got nothing to do with cakes and burgers. It’s just how we are. We all eat simple, moderate diets. I love lettuce! I’m 187 kg because I was just made that way, no other reason, right!
Fat hate is the new racism and sexism and we’re not going to take it lying down on the couch. The fat army is coming!
(Phil Barker has become a passionate fat activist since his attitude re-adjustment in the comments section of a related story on this site, At The Front Line of the Fat Wars).-
marg May 31, 2012
Phil Barker I found your comments about the article and the comments you made against Overeaters Anonymous distasteful why don’t you go sprout your hate elsewhere
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Sam May 31, 2012
Sadly Phil, most people seemed to have missed the point of your post in their rush to be rude to you.
You need to add a smiley face to the end of your post so the outraged dummies can understand HUMOR.
Well played Sir
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Christopher Hang May 30, 2012
@Phil Barker feeling alot of hate coming from your corner actually.
Although the article talks about weight loss, I would like to interpret that as health gain, a skinny person could easily be less healthy than a fat person if they a genetically predesposed to not keep weight. In fact people who are predisposed to keeping weight are slightly healthier than people who are not predisposed to keeping weight because they have the ability to protect the body from acidity and toxins by storing them in the fats, a person genetically predisposed to being skinny doesn’t have that protective buffer layer, they’re tissues and organs and bones just slowly degrade, at least a person predisposed to keeping weight has that buffer and can change their lifestyle before any lasting damage is done.
Rant over. Not sure if any of that made sense?
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Dr Rick Kausman May 30, 2012
Understandable that people can read the same article and it can mean so many different things to different people. However as the author of the article, I can assure everyone that is not about weight loss – in fact it is quite the opposite – it is about how we can do the best we can to care for ourselves in the very challenging environment and culture we live in.
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Virginia May 30, 2012
I totally agree with everything that Dr Rick says in this article. I have been a nurse and educator for 40 years and I think the focus should be on incorporating sustainable, healthy changes into our life not weight loss. Otherwise people focus on the number on the scales and this can lead to poor health decisions.
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VRog May 30, 2012
@Phil Barker: troll much? I don’t see how anyone can object to the very reasonable arguments Dr Kausman has made, regardless of your personal opinion of the alleged “body wars”. Treating our bodies with respect? Learning to love ourselves and treat ourselves with kindness and gentleness? These are things we should all be encouraged to foster within ourselves. Or do you think fat people don’t deserve to love themselves?
Oh, and by the way, your sarcastic tone only serves to illustrate your hateful attitude. It certainly does not add anything edifying to the debate.
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julie May 30, 2012
Excellent article. I wish this stuff was common knowledge, not to feed the Phil Barker troll, but I lost weight in ways that are very similar to what you talk about here, just learning to not abuse myself emotionally, intuitive eating, especially not eating so much when not hungry, etc. It’s lonely, the way most are trying to lose weight frightens me, I don’t find much solidarity anywhere around.
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julie May 30, 2012
‘I can have it if i want it but do I really feel like it?’ is a great question.
Much much much more helpful than denying supposedly ‘wicked’ things and having a massive over reaction to eat them as a result.
Like the article’s overview a lot, and non human body images for the cards.
Thank you Rick, your book and apporach are great.
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Lozza Bee May 30, 2012
I am a long-time fan of Dr Rick Kausman’s book and have adopted much of his philosophy. As a consequence, I am healthier (physically, mentally and spritually) than I have ever been. By gently making changes in my behaviour and slowly adopting new exercise habits, I have achieved permanent change for the better.
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Kaz May 30, 2012
I have a slim sister who has never had weight problems, always ate whatever she liked when she was hungry and stopped when she was full. Simple. For her. As for me, my weight has yo-yo’ed up and down, swinging back and forth between being “in control”/dieting and going on a food rampage. The usual tale. I no longer believe the hype. Diet companies teach us to “take control” as though losing a few kilos will solve everything. Maybe what we really need is to put the shame on hold and start listening to what’s eating us up. Trust ourselves, our bodies. I’ve read and appreciated Kausman’s book and I’m all for anyone helping to end the war on our bodies. MIndful eating is the middle way between the diet and binge extremes.
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emily May 30, 2012
Phil did you even read the article? I can not understand how you have misinterpreted it so completely. Stop wasting our time and take your hate somewhere else.
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dramaqueen75 May 30, 2012
I think you will find that Phil was using the invisible sarcasm font
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Jasper May 30, 2012
Great message, the If not dieting, then what book, was the first book I read when I was starting to give up diets and it is fantastic. Another book that has been really great is ” Normal Eating Normal Weight”, but there has not been one thing that has helped, but many small things. I am now starting to lose weight without even trying, eating anything I feel like. It’s not a quick fix, but I feel so happy and content within myself now, that I don’t even care about the weight much anymore.
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Jan May 30, 2012
First of all, I think Phil Barker was trying to be sarcastic in his attempt to see his name in print. I have read the article he is referring too, and he copped it from a lot of people about his lack of understanding on the whole fat issue.
Anyway, I have known of Dr Rick for quite a few years and have even had the pleasure of speaking to him once when he called me after a request from the lovely Dr Samantha Thomas. I like Dr Rick’s philosophies and his ground breaking work in this area. I believe he speaks the truth and he has answered many of my questions in this matter.
I often find myself in the position of having to clamp my mouth shut when so many women around me discuss diets. As a former serial dieter, I know how they don’t work, yet if I was to say anything I can guarantee I would be shot down in flames.
It is certainly big business trading in fat fighting, but those that do are selling false dreams. -
Sally Asher May 30, 2012
Excellent article Dr Rick. Yo- yo dieting for years simply warped my relationship with food and I was either being “good” or being “bad”. Once I quit restrictive diets and started to reconnect with my bodies cues of hunger and fullness, to be compassionate and non-judgmental with my eating choices, common sense and moderation prevailed. I now eat with freedom and joy and my sustained weight loss is simply the result of my desire to treat myself with extreme self-care.
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C May 30, 2012
I agree with Kaz and have a similar experience with a sister but middle age has changed her as well, but not the attempts to ‘slim’.
I do not want my teen daughters travelling the perilous road of diets that leads to self deceit and misery. I am their example of self acceptance whatever size as long as I am fit and healthy and happy.
Trust yourself, ask yourself, get professional help. Great article. -
Phil Barker May 30, 2012
I was satirising the fact acceptance thinking by assuming it in relation to this sane and gentle story. Not trolling really.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the fat debate, there’s no room for humour in the discussion, that’s for sure! -
belinda May 30, 2012
I think the “I can have it if I want it, but do I really feel like it” feels:
Calm
Gentle
LiberatingGreat thought to hang on to
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VRog May 30, 2012
@Phil Barker: in my experience, sarcasm is rarely deployed in a genuine attempt at humour. It is often much more pointed than that. I think you’re being a wee bit disingenuous in that respect, especially given previous comments you have made in previous articles. It does seem you were trying to “provoke the fatties” as you have done elsewhere. There’s nothing wrong with making your point, as ill-conceived as I personally believe it to be, but surely it can be done respectfully and not in a sneering, judgement and superior manner.
In any case, I think you missed the point Dr Kausman was trying to make. Dr Kausman was not promoting obesity, as your original comment seemed to be suggesting, but promoting self-acceptance as a means of achieving holistic health of the person, regardless of weight. I think we can agree that this is a good thing?!
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Phil Barker May 30, 2012
@Caroline Roessler Yes you do detect mischief making! Since the FA position is we accept our bodies exactly as they are, to even advocate eating only when hungry or “gentle enjoyable movement” is to take a thin privilege “hate” viewpoint that assumes smaller is somehow better and imposes some sort of judgment on the community of fat.
I was using this nice story to point out the extremity of the FA viewpoint.-
marg June 1, 2012
Phil, I agree” Health and vitality come in all shapes and sizes” we should respect and honour each persons choice to be themselves.
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marg June 1, 2012
Phil, I agree” Health and vitality come in all shapes and sizes” we should respect and honour each persons choice to be themselves.
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Penelope May 30, 2012
I was a teenager in the 60′s when all this dieting obsession started when everyone was told to look like Twiggy. I, unfortunately wasn’t fashionably stick-thin, though, looking at photos, I realize I wasn’t fat, just a healthy weight.
Fast forward to the present. After many, many years of failed diets (is there any other kind?) and reading every book on the subject including Dr Rick’s, I tried a new approach. Two years ago I gave up sugar (except for fruit). I am now 10 kilos lighter, feel so much healthier and happier and know that this situation will remain as long as I refuse to eat sugar.
There is no sense of deprivation, because I have completely lost my taste for sweet things and can eat and drink anything else I feel like (including wine, fortunately). Interestingly, quantity of food is no longer a problem as the body self-regulates appetite when it is not confused by the addictive properties of sugar.
If people stopped eating sugary rubbish (which describes most processed foods, if you read the labels) the diet industry would collapse overnight. Problem solved! -
Phil Barker May 30, 2012
@Vrog – yes, that’s my point. I agree with “self-acceptance as a means of achieving holistic health of the person.”
My point is FA is so extreme to even advocate some kind of gentle, accepting, healthy responsibility for your own health and wellbeing is a thin-privilege “hate” position, apparently.
Or so they told me! -
alma ries May 30, 2012
everything Rick says is true,I know it and believe it. However 2 of my friends are following diets, they are both very thin (ww goal weights are set way too low) and I am not! Hard to feel good about yourself in today’s world when you are are size 18 not a 10 or 12!
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Sharon May 30, 2012
Geez Phil…you’re never going to win your battle with the FA crowd – accept it and move on! By doing this you are giving the argument oxygen.
Cheers,
Sharon -
Seana Smith May 30, 2012
Bravo!! Last year I made lots of breakthroughs in terms of eating better and looking after myself well, thus less comfort eating. The book ‘The Don’t Go Hungry Diet’ is terrific, really useful for me. I have lost some weight, but describe myself as ‘slowly edging it off’ over more than 15 months. Love the mindful eating messages. Also I think we all need to just slow down and calm down in general… and eat more slowly, esp me!
My need now is to get all my children eating an overall healthier diet and more variety – not easy!!
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Frances May 30, 2012
Jeez, Phil, get your hand off it.
Great article, Dr Kausman. I’ve been a fan of your work for a while.
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Phil Barker May 30, 2012
@Sharon – I know. I know. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve got to let it be!
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Cate May 30, 2012
A really interesting article.
I literally spent almost twenty years with my head over a toilet each day due to bulimia. I went through being an inpatient, out patient, hypnotherapy, dietician, OA etc etc. Treatment took a long time and I found very little in the way of perspectives catering for adult women who aren’t dependent on their families. Alot of the women I met with eating disorders were well past their teens with jobs and relationships.
Now I find myself in a ridiculous situation of being obese and needing to lose weight for medical reasons. I gained 30 kilos due to a dodgy thyroid over the last three years. My thyroid is now ‘fixed’ but the weight still sticks there and i am medically very obese. I need to lose weight to help a podiatry problem (it’s hard to walk and exercise when you are in pain).
I kept getting told by GPs to go to Weight Watchers. I went along for a few weeks and yes, the food obsessions and bulimia came back with a vengance. How do you count points for a binge and purge?
So now I am on a two month waiting list to see a psychologist. Frustrating.
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Frances May 30, 2012
Cate – If I may toot my own horn, I run a site called the All Bodies Directory that lists fat positive health care providers: http://allbodies.wordpress.com/
You may find a GP near you that won’t prescribe something a diet program to a former bullemic (which I find absolutely appalling). There’s also a couple of exercise physiologists in Melbourne as well as some dieticians who have done Dr Kausman’s health professional training program. I hope you get the care you need x
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Michelle May 30, 2012
Dr Rick I think you are amazing. Instead of hating myself, I am learning to love myself and the weight just drops away on it’s own. I still have periods where I overeat, but I am more mindful of what I am doing and I catch myself doing it now, rather than just making myself sick. I wish more people were more aware of your work. Thank you
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Debbie May 30, 2012
Getting the general population to give up on the ‘Get Rich Quick’ or the ‘Get Thin Quick’ mentality is a never ending cause that Dr Rick has taken up – for which he has my greatest respect.
I was a fat teenager and I battled with yo yo dieting for years. It was only after I CHANGED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD that the extra weight came off slowly and permanently (I have had a stable weight for the last 25 years).
So how do you go about stopping people buy lottery tickets ? It’s a hard one. -
Frances May 30, 2012
Cate – If I may toot my own horn, I run a site called the All Bodies Directory that lists fat positive health care providers: http://allbodies.wordpress.com/
You may find a GP near you that won’t prescribe something a diet program to a former bullemic (which I find absolutely appalling). There’s also a couple of exercise physiologists in Melbourne as well as some dieticians who have done Dr Kausman’s health professional training program. I hope you get the care you need x
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Catherine May 30, 2012
I truly wish the answer was simple. In my experience (I have dieted and yo-yo’d and not dieted for more than 35 years. I am now heavier than ever! “Just” giving up one thing “sugar” – “Just” “eating less and moving more”, “Just” giving up carbs’ “Just” following a “sensible eating plan”, “just” giving myself “permission” to be “kinder to myself”. “just” “just” “just”. If it was so simple, I would not be the weight I am…
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Jacinta May 30, 2012
In response to Catherine – I agree, it is not simple at all and there are no easy answers! The reasons behind our eating behaviour is multifaceted, which is why only focussing on what you eat is not the answer. Even though I work in this field, I still find it a challenge to eat what my body needs. I realise that my thing is emotional eating, and this is where i need to put my focus”.What” i eat is not the problem, it is “Why” i overeat which is. Another thing to bear in mind is that what works for one person’s body, may not work for you. There is no one answer, we have to discover our own answer.
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Jacinta May 30, 2012
10 years ago I started my coaching practice with a similar philosophy to Dr Rick. I was delighted to come across his book and to know that someone else shared my views on being your most healthy weight and in fact I use quite a number of his activities with my clients.Things are shifting thank goodness but the diet mentality is still extremely strong.The BBC reported this morning that a new study has found that children as young as five already struggle with poor body image.A friend’s teenage daughter is already asking diets and crying that she is too fat! How on earth did things get so crazy? Whatever happened to loving ourselves and others just the way we are? It’s a lot harder to engage in unhelpful behaviours when you truly love and respect yourself. Thanks Dr Rick for spreading the word. and for the other comments which are very helpful.
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Sue May 30, 2012
I discovered Dr Kausman’s website some months ago. I ordered the book and again have discovered the joys of eating something tasty and nutritious when I am really hungry. I read Diet no More some years ago and that’s where I found Dr Kausman. I refuse to believe the lie that I am not beautiful, just because I’m not skinny. And the other one that says ” if I look a certain way I will be accepted, loved and life with be perfect. I do try to eat nutritiously and exercise moderately, but if I want chocolate I will have it. Obesity is not healthy, but neither is extreme skinniness. Both my mother and my grandmother were overweight, they lived to 93 and 91 respectively. One of the things I really liked about Dr. K’s book was that in earlier times, clothes were made to fit the person. Now we are expected to fit the clothing manufacturers size standards. We just don’t. So now no more calling it binging, but non hungry eating and control that by listening to our bodies, they are “wonderfully and fearfully made.”
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Lynne May 30, 2012
@ Phil – understanding a addiction is not easy & certainly in regards to food there is not much acknowledgement that it exists. But those of us who have it understand. Not everyone who overeats or is obese has a food addiction just as not everyone who drinks too much is not an alcoholic nor everyone who plays the pokies has a gambling addiction. But attempts to treat an addiction using methods that non addicts use will fail. Food addiction is not just about overeating it is about being controlled by something else no matter how much will-power we have. It is so difficult to sustain recovery from an addiction that support from others is required long term. Anyone who understands brain function knows this. I long for when food addiction is a recognized illness as then opportunity for treatment will be available to all those who suffer.
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Diane Munns May 30, 2012
Great article Dr Rick. It’s one thing to speak kindly to ones self but when other family members directly make negative comments about a woman’s body – you’d have to have a self esteem made of cement to let that roll off your back! I met with a client today that is making steady positive changes towards a more healthy lifestyle only to be met with constant negative comments regarding every morsel of food she puts in her mouth by the male members in her family. As a result of her positive healthy lifestyle changes, she has lost size, but instead of the family supporting her, they critisize her saying “she will get fat if she eats that”. This poor woman is so anxious she is now unable to eat properly. I am really looking forward to doing your course here in Sydney in October this year.
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Steph May 30, 2012
Brilliant article Dr Rick I have been fortunate to hear see and speak to Dr Rick after I had hideous experiences with the medical professionals including one appalling dietician. I have been put on diets since I was a young girl and I have tried plently of diets on my own. Dr Rick referred me to an excellent dietician who helps me reset myself especially when I am given medication for a chronic illness and told not to increase my weight. The advice was watch my portions and mindful eating. Go Dr Rick your ideas and philosophy is very refreshing although I know that the challenge is to the medical and dieting industry to understand their impact on people.
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kirsty May 30, 2012
your book is always in my head…I always say to myself ‘i can have it if I want it, but do I REALLY want it?’ before indulging and it often makes me alter unhealthy food choices to more healthy – thank you x
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SandsOfTime May 30, 2012
What a wonderful, calm, sane article. Thank you. Some words that have helped me: “if hunger isn’t the problem, food isn’t the answer”.
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Peter May 30, 2012
Good article and good to see this message getting out as it is much needed
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Rishy May 30, 2012
Great article. The book is an excellent investment. Very sensible approach to health and life in general.
Looking forward to seeing more people adopt this approach!
Thanks Dr Rick
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Carole May 30, 2012
Great Article. I have spent the last 45 years since early primary school, either being in a diet or not. I have lost hundreds of kilos and gained even more. Every time I finish a diet I get a bit heavier. I had lap-band surgery 9 years ago and am now 16 kilos heavier than before the surgery. I am living proof that diets don’t work! but I can’t shake the diet mentality. How do I find a therapist that can help me deal with my food addiction?
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Julie Viney May 31, 2012
Hi Carol
I can feel your frustration; I suggest looking at Dr Rick’s website and you will find a list of like-minded health professionals. I would suggest interviewing a few to find one that suits you, to support you on the journey. Good luck.
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Julietta May 30, 2012
Great article Dr. Rick and thank you for your book also. It came as a relief when I first read your book, that someone out there (a professional) was ‘human’ and actually understood the problems that an overweight person faces in today’s society and the inner turmoil for overweight people trying to ‘ fit in’ and also feel that it is ‘mandatory’ that they follow some ‘diet instructions’ so that they may lose some weight. I have struggled for many years and am the largest I have ever been. I am so sick of hearing of what I can and can’t eat, and having to report to a dietitian, weight centre etc., my weekly weight and explain why I gained that week and feeling so anxious before my meeting, and then to top it off, I pay the person/Centre for all the anxiety I went through. That’s NOT the way to a healthy lifestyle or weight loss. Is it any wonder why we don’t succeed. So thank you again, Dr. Rick, your book was a breath of fresh air, a relax, that I am actually OK, and others can like me for me, and apart from any serious health issues which do need to be tended to, I’ve learned I owe no explanation to anyone regarding my weight, I have to take ownership of my weight, and the principles set out in your book are a great guide. Slowly, and it will take time, I will return to ‘normal relaxed eating’ without having all the anxiety and stress that I have endured since I was a young girl, and I am 53!
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Rebecca May 30, 2012
Great to see these messages being reinforced, to counter the ubiquity and apparent power of explicit and implicit pro-anything-to-lose-weight-fast messages (never mind getting healthy or feeling vital). As the editor of a women’s health magazine I am constantly asked ‘can you tell me how to lose weight?’. Alas my anti-diet answer, however affirmative, often goes down like a lead balloon against promises of quick fixes and impossible ideals, which make a challenging nemesis for such sage advice as Dr Rick’s. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a harmless diet – they necessarily cultivate the ideal physiological and psychological conditions for chronic chaos with food, for a near-guarantee of regaining the lost weight. Keep up the great work Dr Rick! R
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Rebecca May 30, 2012
(Post script – we wholeheartedly advocate shifting the emphasis to health and self-acceptance and care, not a number or weight loss in isolation for its own sake. Love your work.)
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marg May 30, 2012
great artical Rick
Having tried and failed at dieting for so many years it was a relief to read your book in 1999 then to see you in 2001 .
over the years I have learnt to listen to my body ,to be kind to and nurture myself- I have not dieted for over 10 years.
two of your cards sum it up far better than I.
“I am aiming to healthy at my own natural weight”
“Evidence shows that it is healthy behaviours,rather than the achievementof any particular weight that determines optimal health.
Thankyou Rick -
Toni May 30, 2012
My learning curve has been steep. Dr k’s book is part of my support team. I’ve learnt food is not to be feared. I’ve learnt scales are for fish. And most of all abusing our bodies and minds with food related problems is not showing ourselves self compassion. Thank you for sharing your knowledge Dr K. And readers you can be presented with the information but it depends where we are on our journey and path to how we interpret this information and what we do with it
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marg May 31, 2012
Toni
I like the fact scales are for fish
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Helen May 30, 2012
I am a clinical hypnotherapist and I specialise in “emotional eating” I agree with Dr Rick in regard to the fact that it isn’t about the food (in most cases). For most of my clients food is used as a legal drug of choice to help my clients cope with stress/anxiety/ what has happened to them in the past/ what is happening currently/the belief systems they have about themselves and so on. My clients are educated and knowledgable when it comes to what to eat and they understand that moving their bodies (exercise) is also beneficial however taking action in this direction appears a real challenge. Some of my clients have had lap band surgery and have lost weight initially but the reasons they have turned to food hasn’t changed and the weight comes back on.
Being REALISTIC; being brave in facing the issues that cause us to comfort ourselves with food and taking action in these areas combined with sensible eating (not a diet) and a regular form of exercise is a positive step in regaining our personal power over our bodies and our life.-
VRog May 31, 2012
Hi Helen, are you in Sydney? If so, could you provide your contact details? I’m an emotional eater and have been thinking about hypnotherapy. If you aren’t in Sydney, can you recommend someone in Sydney?
Thanks, V.
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Julie Viney May 31, 2012
As a Dietitian with over 20 years experience I find it sad that more and more people don’t know how to enjoy food, they come to me feeling so confused with the years of dieting, and feeling like a failure. Dr Rick pioneered another way in Australia, and the more we can all take the message out there, the sooner people might start feeling good about themselves and be happy and healthy regardless of their weight. We may feel like isolated voices at times, against the quick fix, quick sell weight loss industry, but united we can become very loud.
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Alissa June 1, 2012
What a fantastic message from Dr Rick Kausman…hopefully this will reach as many people as possible who are stuck in the excrutiating diet dilemma. A reformed dieter myself and busy mother of three (soon to be four!), I now cannot believe how much futile time and energy I spent obsessing about points, calories, grams of fat, proportions of carbs, exercise and eating regimes etc etc. It is such a natural thing to trust your own body, help steer it in the right direction at times and to enjoy moving your body and feeling comfortable in your own skin. I had a routine screen for gestational diabetes today and for the first time in many years, I restricted my diet yesterday so as not to interefere with the test results. To my amazement, once again, for the first time in many years, I have found myself eating (rather scoffing) a ridiculous amount of food in a binge-like fashion post-test today, because I felt deprived from my food restriction! And that was only one day…I can’t believe that people continue to expose themselves to the harsh and unnecessary restrictions of the many diets which fill books, magazines, and weight loss centres today. Give it up, enjoy food, stop obsessing about such needless garbage and get on with taking full advantage of this amazing life with which we’ve been blessed!
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kb June 1, 2012
Phil Barker at it again with his self-proclaimed expert status arguing with people who actually are. Dr Rick Kausman, this is a great article and a breath of fresh air among a sea of medico’s who contribute to the fat hate and fear mongering of health. As a student dietitian I listen fairly often to the rhetoric and propoganda. There is a small shift beginning where the focus is moving a little away from weight and focusing on health and helping people to be healthier for which I am grateful. We need so many more practitioners who get this and then we might have a chance of having a healthy and happy society.
Who will Phil Barker and others hate then? -
ButWhy June 4, 2012
@Phil Barker
Would You like some bread with that whine?I mean seriously! Get over Your self! You wrote a bad and pretentious article and You got some well deserved feedback. Buhu!
Move on and stop putting labels on all people participating in FA. Are You really soooo precios that You can´t take a little critique without attacking every fat person who dares to love him-/herself?
The worst part is, that You seem to think that You´re being clever!
