Why is it so difficult to follow the rules of good nutrition and sustainable weight loss, and how can we make it easier?

As I covered in a recent blog, the rules of good nutrition and weight loss are actually pretty simple.

So why are they so challenging to execute?

Here are two of the primary reasons.

Our bodies were not designed for current times.

Instead, we evolved when food was scarce, and survival depended on the ability to store energy efficiently. In the harsh environments of our early ancestors, where hunting and gathering were the primary means of sustenance, those who could store fat during periods of abundance had a better chance of surviving famines.

As a result, our bodies became incredibly adept at craving and storing high-calorie foods, which were rare and precious in the wild.

However, in today's world, where food is abundant, easily accessible, and often engineered to be irresistibly delicious, these ancient survival mechanisms work against us.

The same biological impulses that once kept our ancestors alive now contribute to overeating and the rise of obesity-related health issues as our bodies continue to operate as though we might face a famine tomorrow.

Diet culture has really messed with our thoughts.

Diet culture is a pervasive force that has profoundly influenced how we think about our bodies, the food we eat, and how we approach weight loss. From a young age, we're bombarded with messages that equate thinness with health, beauty, and success. This has led to a widespread belief that our worth is tied to our body size and that dieting is the only way to achieve the ideal body. However, these notions are misleading and harmful to our physical and mental well-being.

Diet culture often promotes a one-size-fits-all approach to health, ignoring a person's circumstances, preferences, and lifestyle. This has set us up for failure.

Diet culture often teaches restrictive eating and demonizes foods as "good" or "bad." This black-and-white thinking creates a toxic relationship with food, where eating becomes a source of guilt and anxiety rather than nourishment and enjoyment.

Diet culture fails to recognize that true health involves:

• Nourishing our bodies with a variety of foods.

• Moving in ways that bring us joy.

• Honoring our hunger and fullness.

Unfortunately, breaking free from diet culture thinking is not easy. The unhelpful thoughts we have developed over the years are almost subconscious. It can feel easier and more tangible to focus on the actions we need to take rather than the thoughts we need to modify.  

So, what should we do?

First, let us give ourselves a break and let go of whatever self-disappointment we may harbor. Let's accept that our past failures are not our fault and claim our power to make changes today that positively affect our future.

Second, let's really be willing to examine our thoughts. Because thoughts drive feelings, feelings drive actions (or inaction), and action (or inaction) creates results.

So don't put the horse (the action) before the cart (the thoughts).

It's a winning strategy.  I promise.