Anti-Diet Culture is touted as the solution to Diet Culture, but is it helping or hurting us? Are websites like this one that provide recipes and meal plans for keto and other diets part of the problem? IS dieting inherently bad for us? Let’s discuss.
I don’t usually do these kind of opinion posts, but I want to “weigh” in (sorry) and also get your opinion on the debate about anti-diet culture that always peaks around this time of year.
After being called out on Instagram by someone for promoting “diet culture” when I posted about my 5 Day Soup Diet this morning, I asked myself honestly if there is anything unhealthy (mentally, emotionally, physically) about promoting or using a plan like Squeaky Clean Keto, Whole30, the Egg Fast (or any diet plan) to lose weight after indulging.
According to the woman who commented on my IG this morning saying she was “not ok with this post,” I was “promoting an ideal” to lose weight “via glorified restriction.” Also that I was not “empowering women to accept themselves” and that I need to “do better for our kids who internalize these messages of diet culture.”
That’s a lot of accountability to assign to someone who is simply sharing a free meal plan for people (and not just women by the way) who want to lose a few pounds.
She obviously feels strongly about it, as do many others. But does anti-diet culture really solve the problem of diet culture?
Before I could answer that – I did a little research into what diet culture and anti diet culture even mean. There is a lot of info out there, and honestly it seems to be subjective depending on who is explaining it, but here it is in simple terms.
What are diet culture and anti-diet culture?
Diet culture is a term that refers mostly to beliefs that slim bodies are more acceptable and attractive and healthy than fat bodies, and that those social norms, perpetuated by the media, are what motivate people to punish themselves via guilt, denial, dieting, and/or over-exercising to achieve the “ideal” body and gain acceptance.
Anti-Diet Culture promotes not conforming to the belief of an ideal body size, and in defiance of that belief to not “diet” or restrict calories, food groups, or portion sizes in any way – but rather to intuitively let your body tell you what it needs to be it’s healthiest self.
Naturally, this raises some questions.
- Is going on a “diet” really self-punishment for the yummy things you ate that led to some unwanted weight gain – and are we even allowed to call it “unwanted” weight?
- Does dieting mean that you are buying into the idea that women have to look a certain way or be a certain weight to be attractive or worthwhile?
- Is going on a temporary diet to reduce your weight (for whatever your personal reasons are) an inherently bad thing?
In my opinion the answer to all of these is no.
I strongly believe that actively managing your body weight isn’t wrong, and that it is all about checks and balances in a similar way to managing your money. When you go on a spending spree it’s fun while it lasts, and then reality hits that you are broke (or at a balance below your comfort level) and you have to tighten up a bit until your bank account recovers.
You don’t decide that being broke or in debt is your right, and continue to spend however you want to because of some imagined “poor” culture.
We don’t vilify having money, and normalize being poor to make ourselves feel better about overspending and not adjusting to whatever our personal financial situation is.
That would be unreasonable and even delusional. The facts are, if we don’t live within our personal means eventually we’ll end up bankrupt, or at least in a situation that causes a lot of anxiety and unhappiness.
In that scenario, if you want to course-correct you have two choices – earn more money to support your spending habits (I realize this isn’t as simple as it sounds for a lot of reasons when it comes to actual money, but bear with me for the purpose of this analogy), or adjust your spending to meet what your current income is.
I propose that dieting is no different. Whether you make a big purchase (a few weeks of overindulgence) and need to tighten up a bit (a short plan to lose those pounds), or you’ve really been off the rails for awhile (hello pandemic weight that is still hanging around 🙋🏼♀️) and need to make some longer term eating adjustments – the checks and balances principle applies.
Maybe, instead of cutting spending, you increase your “income” by exercising and burning more calories so that you can afford to consume more, while still maintaining a positive balance.
Conversely, if you don’t check yourself at all, and simply justify it as abandoning diet culture, empowering women in larger bodies, intuitive eating, food freedom, or whatever is trending at the moment – then you may feel good about that for awhile, but eventually if you aren’t applying some checks and balances to your own eating, you will find yourself in a place you aren’t happy with physically.
And your satisfaction over championing those ideals will be small consolation when you are personally facing the challenges that come with weight gain and other potential health consequences of eating whatever you want for an extended period of time.
Our bodies are like a bank account – and the balance is different for everyone. As someone who has always struggled with my weight, I am a low earner – I can’t afford to “shop” like my account is fat – because inevitably I will be.
I have learned this the hard way, and am back to tightening the calorie/carb belt yet again in an effort to get back to a healthier weight that’s more comfortable for me.
Other people are “making it rain,” and seem to have unlimited spending potential – they can eat whatever they want and maintain a healthy weight. It’s maddening for those of us in a different “class”, but undeniably true.
We can rail about how unfair it is, blame fit people for “perpetuating the problem,” chalk it up to media for stigmatizing being fat – but none of that is going to change the fact that if your goal is to be fit and healthy, then you need to observe the checks and balances and manage your own personal account – whatever its limitations.
Which means if you choose to indulge and it results in some weight gain, if you aren’t happy with that and want to lose the weight, you’ll have to put yourself in a deficit until you do.
It’s not punishment, it’s balance.
I feel that I can speak to this with some credibility because I gave it a go during the pandemic – I “listened to my body” and “honored my cravings” as was recommended by so many influencers on social media who have abandoned “diet culture” in favor of intuitive eating.
It was easier than staying keto and saying no to foods I enjoyed – and instead of feeling guilty about it I felt righteous. I bought into the idea that if I just stopped the cycle of dieting and then indulging and the guilt that came with it, that my body would eventually even out and naturally regulate itself to a healthy weight that was effortless to maintain.
But that’s not what happened.
I slowly but steadily gained weight. I wasn’t binging, but I wasn’t tracking, and I wasn’t limiting – I ate what my body told me it wanted – sometimes salad, sometimes pasta, sometimes fruit, sometimes pizza.
I didn’t like that I was gaining, but I was assured by all these ant-diet culture people online that you just have to hang in there and it will eventually work.
Fast forward to about a year later and lo and behold, anti dieting never led to some metabolic miracle where I didn’t have to put conscious effort into maintaining a healthy weight – instead I was saddled with even more weight than I started with.
And I wasn’t willing to wait another year and possibly another 30-50 pounds gained to see if it would finally start working.
It wasn’t really a surprise in hindsight – from the moment I hit puberty I had to work hard to keep weight off. It’s my reality – no matter what the internet or popular opinion says.
But I believed it because I wanted to believe it.
So called intuitive eating let me off the hook, and I could finally just eat what I wanted to eat and everything would be ok. I could achieve a healthy weight without even trying. Because that’s the promise. That your body will default to its healthiest self on its own.
But it’s a beautiful lie for most of us.
And based on how much my website traffic has shot up in the last few days, I’m likely not the only one who fell for it and is returning to keto or whatever other plan we’ve used in the past to manage our weight when we knew and accepted that it was a fact of life.
So what’s the takeaway?
Saying no to yourself when your body is telling you it “needs” that cookie (and then next thing you know it was actually 5 or 10 cookies) is sometimes a good thing. It’s called restraint and self discipline.
Anti-diet culture tells us that food “guilt” is bad and unhealthy, but the fact is, how you feel about what you eat is irrelevant to the chemistry of weight gain. Feeling guilty about eating 10 cookies versus not feeling guilty about it does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
On Guilt
The word guilt has a negative connotation, and yes, unhealthy guilt can be debilitating if it denotes failure or self-condemnation in the extreme. But some synonyms for guilt are also “responsibility” and “answerability” and that is an appropriate application here.
If that “answerability” or awareness of the cause and effect of over-indulging a bit motivates you to go for a walk or take the stairs to burn those extra calories, then how that NOT a good thing?
Maybe, rejecting that “guilt” because it’s seen as punishing yourself – and believing your body will somehow be sad about it and react negatively, is really just a rationalization for not holding yourself accountable.
I said what I said.
I realize that the notable exception to this would be someone who has struggled with eating disorders who could be at risk when engaging on a limiting eating plan. The very real issues that they are dealing with are not at all what I’m talking about here.
So is it wrong for me to be posting diet plans on my website and social media which could trigger someone vulnerable to unhealthy habits?
I thought a lot about that, and in the end I believe the answer is no. I’m not responsible for someone’s actions regarding eating habits any more than a blogger who posts photos of a delicious cocktail is responsible if it triggers a recovering alcoholic to have a drink.
But maybe I’m rationalizing because I make my living providing keto recipes and meal plans to the public. Can I really be objective on this?
Kerstin says
I know that I cannot really tolerate many carbs, and while I usually don’t do a squeaky clean keto, I do use many keto recipes in an effort to reduce my carbs radically…and I thank you for that.
I don’t believe a diet is a mentality issue – you have to find what works for you. And looking at my family’s history, I know that carbs are my bane, and I need to watch them…and saying I am on a “see food diet – all the food I see, I eat” is not a good thing, just as my drug of choice is sugar or carbs…
So I greatly appreciate your effort to provide good recipes we can enjoy while still helping us to lose our weight or keep it where we want it!
Marlene says
We’ve abused the word diet and have made it into a trigger for some. The word in noun form just means foods that are eaten by a particular species, whether human or animal. When anthropologists discover human bones or mummies from a long lost tribe, they are able to find out age, gender, height, diseases and DIET- what they ate. But now we use diet in verb form, which now means restriction, denial, non pleasure, etc. I have “a diet”, I am not “on a diet”. My diet consists of food that make me feel my best, have healed my migraines, healed my body inflammation, prevented diabetes…I could go on.
Melissa, you are spot on with your thoughts. Don’t cave to the shamers. My holiday desserts and special treats always come from your recipes and no one knows the difference!
Mellissa Sevigny says
You are an excellent example of keeping a good balance Rhonda – thanks for this inspiring response!
Kathy says
What has happened to the right as individuals to make our own life choices without judgements? Some of us choose “health” based on our unique body composition and some choose to “rationalize” their lack of willpower or self-control. Your “offer” of an alternative eating method is not forcing another to make any type of choice. The same is true of the anti-vax crowd. We all are entitled to our “beliefs” and “free will” so long as it doesn’t harm another.
Vicki Montoya says
I agree with the sentiments here. Melissa – you are a breath of fresh air and simply provide an option for whose of us who CHOOSE to follow your (ever so delicious) recipes. Those who so quickly and readily respond to a post like you made most likely have other issues. I agree with you. I’ve struggled since puberty to keep those pounds at bay. Yours is a welcome website that provides great recipes and advice for our own choices. Thanks for what you do!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Vicki, I appreciate your support!
Ellen says
Anti diet culture is hurting us IMO. My mother was so obese that she stopped living and had trouble even getting off the couch. She stopped cooking and ordered take out every day. This caused her to gain even more weight. When she got breast cancer like her mother, she opted to refuse treatment and do assisted suicide. She was my inspiration to get off my butt and get healthy. I found keto in 2016. I had much body damage from the 13 meds I was on. In the beginning I could only walk 5 minutes at a time. Today I am med free and aging in reverse according to my physician. Joint pain completely disappeared. Healed my liver, diabetes is in remission. Sadly a few months after my mother died my niece also died from suicide. She had health issues too. She left behind 4 children. I believe with all my soul that God brought me to Keto. I also believe my mother and niece would be here today if they changed their diets to Keto.
Mellissa Sevigny says
This is a tragic account Ellen. I am so sorry for your loss, and for the hopelessness your Mother and Niece must have felt to move them to that decision. I am happy for you that you have broken the cycle though, and thank you for sharing that moving and inspiring personal story. 💕
Jill Winch says
YOU. GO. GIRL!!!
I’ve been following you for several years now after breast cancer and chemotherapy left me so nutritionally depleted. I’m 10 years past cancer, and no longer need to be under dr’s care, but on one of my last check-ups, my doc looked at my numbers and said, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but keep it up. Your numbers are normal, and ya can’t get better than normal!” Hubs and I (at 73) feel so great it should be illegal :) Neither of us takes any medications whatsoever.
When we’re traveling, even though we eat Keto as best as we can in restaurants, we usually can’t wait to get back home to cooking our own food, because we feel SO much better. And IBIH is the go-to recipe almost all the time. We don’t think of it as a diet, even though we’ve both lost between 15 and 30 pounds, nor do we think of it as restrictive, because of the great variety of foods enhanced with herbs and spices. We usually don’t tell dinner guests their meal is Keto (unless for nut allergies with almond flour) and they always rave.
Your analogy of money was a perfect way to explain our bodies/diets, and this whole “intuitive” eating (spending), and we loved your wise little insert on “guilt”. C’mon people, grow up and own the words responsibility, and answerability.
We think of Keto as a lifestyle, and not a diet, and last we checked, we still live in a country where we’re free to pursue our own lifestyles.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for your scrumptious recipes, and your wisdom. And thank you for being willing to speak up.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks for the support Jill and congratulations on your excellent health – especially at 73! You inspire me to keep working and that just because I’m headed into my 50’s soon that it doesn’t mean I can’t feel great if I go back to what I know works for me – Keto!
Jeanie says
The only thing I can say to you, Melissa and Jill, is a huge AMEN & THANK YOU!!! God bless you!
AR says
I have been low-carb/keto for going on 7 years now. It helped me take control of my weight and health when other measures had failed. I am learning that it is not an all-encompassing answer, and intermittent fasting, weight, cardio, medication, and other choices can be part of the overall health picture, depending on a person’s unique situation.
When I first walked away from sugar, bread, crackers, pasta, potatoes, and rice on a daily basis, friends and family thought it was “too restrictive.” However, I’d argue that excessive weight, painful joints, uncomfortably tight clothing, and chronic acid reflux were more restrictive to me. Those are no longer my reality. In fact, I feel, move, and sleep better at 51 than I did at 45—true story.
Indeed, the pandemic was tough on resolve! I didn’t eat a lot of junky foods myself. However, I drank waaaay too much wine for about a year—not good. I’d go so far as to say it was practically nightly, which is not like me. I’ve had to work to walk that back over the last 6-9 months! Yikes.
Because you asked (and only because you’ve opened the floor), I’ll mention one little hangup I have with low-carb/keto dieting: soup diets and egg fasts. I don’t view those two hacks as promoting the need for long-term habit and mindset changes. I suspect they deliver a skewed sense of what to expect in terms of the time, commitment, and work it will take to see results. Perhaps the thinking is that some will come for the quick-and-fast and opt to stay to try something more?
However, my personal thoughts on those two aside, let me exclaim how much I’ve enjoyed your recipes for many years now. Your site is one I recommend both to people who are newcomers to the lifestyle or have been on low-carb/keto for a bit and want more ideas to expand their cooking. Thank you for all you do, especially for making recipes available for free, for curating a newsletter, for and constantly seeking growth in your own life because that is reflected in your content.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thank you for your honest response and feedback, it is very much appreciated! 😘
AR says
Yes, ma’am. I appreciate you enough to share my thoughts for what they are worth–high praise in my book. ;) Thanks for all you do.
Suzanne says
This post probably saved me a few grand. I have been swarmed by the mindful/intuitive eating posts on instagram because in someway I do resonate with some of what they say. I’ve chatted with two and actually signed up for one persons very expensive course – but only because I could get my money back – and I did. The course material was filled with anti-keto and anti-fasting (both which I like to do) and a lot of points I already learned with my therapist.
Food was love in my family growing up and I would say I think about it too much – but I don’t think I will ever be able to know what I am craving (protein vs fat) due to gastric bypass. Short story long, while I’m experimenting with being more low carb most days and don’t track anymore. And most of the time I am not trying to eat slower and notice more about my food overall.
Just trying to find balance without putting too much merit on anyone else’s ideas is my goal for 2023.
Mellissa Sevigny says
That is a very worthy and reasonable goal Suzanne, and I’m really glad that you didn’t pony up for more expensive courses just to tell you what you already know or can figure out on your own for free with a little experimentation. Thanks for taking the time to chime in!
Audra says
I agree with you but unfortunately that is the sick culture we live in is at right now. We want to give everyone an ok or excuse for bad behaviors rather than them “work” on self and know some of the blame is theirs. I love your analogy and on the flip side of it your way of thinking is correct but again our media, politics and culture are trying to make others think the absolute opposite of your analogy on money, diet and a plethora of other things as well! Keep doing what you are doing. Luckily, there is enough room and believers on both sides for all of us. You have just as many of us for you as against you. It does make you wonder what said commentary was doing even looking at your stuff if it’s not what they believe. Hmm maybe they were looking for answers to a specific problem and rationalizing with/for themselves. Just my 2 bits! Currently on day 3 of the soup diet. Love your cookbooks and what you do and how you write. Photography too, you’re so talented. Thanks for sharing!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Audra, I’m happy to hear that the analogy made sense! Hope you have great results on the soup diet and thanks again for taking the time to comment.