DIET: Quit Saying This 4-Letter Word
Shit. Fuck. Damn. Diet.
“Woohoo! I’m on a diet!”
Said no one ever.
I’ve been on a million diets in my lifetime (and I’m no spring chicken).
From age 12, I started having body image issues—like many teenage girls—and wanted to get skinny and wear the fashion clothing that my skinny classmates were wearing.
But, as a 6’0” woman with a shoe size of US 11.5 / EU 44 / UK 9.5 who has always felt like a moose… “skinny” is not exactly a word that could be used in the same sentence as my name.
No, that’s not a photo of me (I wish!).
In middle-age now, I am happy with the word “lean” and have finally conquered my skinny demons.
Admittedly, my whole Substack is somewhat of a “success story” that I am sharing with the world so that others may enjoy The Goo-Free Lifestyle.
The topics that I write about and recommendations that I make are all coming from first-hand experience.
By living Goo-Free:
I’ve lost 47 pounds and my current weight has been stable for nearly a decade,
I can buy normal clothing off the rack (albeit mostly in the men’s department due to my height),
I no longer have uncontrollable food cravings and rarely overeat,
I feel better than when I was in my 30’s and have far more energy and endurance than most of my middle-aged peers,
I have no chronic pain and take no prescriptions, and
I spend nearly 50% less on grocery bills than I did 5 years ago (not adjusted for inflation, meaning the real decrease in food costs is even greater).
It was certainly not easy in the beginning, but it wasn’t hard or complicated, either.
I just quit using the word DIET and realized that all of the marketing and money-grab diet programs wouldn’t work (for me).
And over time it has become a way of life.
My new normal.
So how did I do it?
✔️ I quit using the word “diet”.
✔️ I changed my mindset about food.
✔️ I read all of the food ingredient labels.
✔️ I stopped eating anything with ‘Goo’ in it.
👎 D I E T 👎
So let’s talk about the word “Diet”.
The word "diet" has become a stigmatized term, comparable in our modern culture to certain four-letter words.
🤬 Shit. Fuck. Damn. Diet. 🤬
(I hope this post doesn’t get flagged or filtered by the algos)
There are other more obscene 4-letter words, but I’ll reserve my potty mouth for the serenity and privacy of my own home. You can thank me by buying me a coffee 👇.
Back to my point.
This stigma tied to the word “diet” is largely due to social pressures and unrealistic standards surrounding weight loss, as many associate "diet" with deprivation, failure, frustration….
…and marketing.
Here are some home pages of the top “weight loss programs” that I found with a quick web search.
They all want your money and they all make impossible promises.
Just pay our low-low monthly fees!
Order this packaged processed food in a box (with Goo)!
You’ll look like this smiling skinny bitch on the home page!
We promise… or your money back!
Hurry! This deal ends today!
The weight loss industry capitalizes on these sentiments, generating substantial revenues from people who are just hoping - desperate - to drop the pounds.
In 2021, the U.S. weight loss market was valued at approximately $72.6 billion, including diet programs, products, and related services. (source)
By 2023, this figure had grown to around $75 billion - nearly a 15% increase from the levels observed in 2020. (source)
Yo-Yo Dieting
Despite the diet industry's growth, success rates of traditional diets remain discouraging.
Several studies have shown that a significant majority of individuals who embark on weight loss journeys regain the weight they lost, often within a two-year span. And some dieters gain back more than they lost.
This cyclical pattern of losing and regaining weight, commonly referred to as "yo-yo dieting," poses serious health risks.
Research has linked weight cycling to an increased risk of heart disease, with larger weight fluctuations correlating with higher risks. (source)
And, yo-yo dieting can lead to metabolic slowdowns, making future weight loss more challenging and potentially resulting in greater weight gain over time. (source).
Change Your Mindset
With data like this, you may want to say fuck it and go eat everything in the refrigerator.
But, you’re better than that!
Instead of adhering to restrictive diets that set us up for failure, try focusing on balanced, sustainable nutrition instead.
Abandon the word “DIET”.
Focus on making healthier food choices as part of The Goo-Free Lifestyle.
The Goo-Free Lifestyle is an entire Substack community aimed at calling attention to processed and ultra-processed food products that are engineered intentionally by commercial food producers to make you crave more, eat more, and buy more.
The most important thing that you can do to lose weight, feel better, and get healthy is to read the ingredients labels on all of the foods that you buy, and abandon the foods that are loaded with Goo.
When you take control of what you put into your shopping cart, you will no longer need to be on a diet or struggle to “find the willpower” to stop eating when you are still craving more.
Your weight challenges have little to do with how much you are eating and willpower will not help you win against the laboratory-engineered food additives and preservatives in processed food products that make you crave, eat, and buy more.
Stop buying “food” that is loaded with Goo.
By redefining your relationship with food and moving away from the traditional concept of "dieting," you can build a healthier mindset that promotes well-being and long-term health.
And the extra pounds will just fall off.
You may not get to where you want to be in a week or a month, but if you remain vigilant and say “no” to Goo, you will get there faster than you expect.
Get off the diet merry-go-round and build a lifestyle that is Goo-Free!
Note: I am neither a nutritionist nor a medical professional. If you have specific health conditions that require a prescribed diet, please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your eating habits.
If you’re not sure about a specific ingredient and want to learn more about whether it qualifies as Goo, leave a comment or reach out and ask me!
And if you enjoyed reading this story, but aren’t ready to subscribe, you can:
(a Goo-Free coffee, of course!)