Whole 30 is everywhere just now, along with Dry January, Veganuary and the countless other ideas on how to kickstart the “New Year New Me” so – should you do it?
Basically, in my opinion, No.
Let me explain.
Whole30 Fad diet in disguise?
I’m gonna call them all out as fad diets.
Yes, you might say that these challenges are trying to inspire people to be healthier but that doesn’t change the fact that they promise improved health by placing strict rules on you.
Rules that you must follow to the letter in order to succeed. This can be problematic, particularly if you have history of a poor relationship towards food and body image.
Problem 1: All or nothing mindset
The idea that you must go all in to change is a dangerous concept.
What happens if you have an off day?
What happens if you just find it too hard?
This is particularly stressful if you undertake these challenges with friends or co-workers.
Each time you buy into this mindset of
all or nothing,
good or bad,
right or wrong
when it comes to food, that reinforces the idea that this is a healthy way to live.
It’s not.
Life is not black and white. You don’t need to be perfect to succeed.
Problem 2: Big change – too much too soon
Going from one extreme to the other is overwhelming for people. Add to that the bad weather and long dark days (in the UK at least), 5 long weeks til payday and just generally feeling a bit blah post Christmas and it’s a lot of stress all at once.
If we perceive something to be out-with our capabilities we become stressed and unable to stick to it.
After all, how many times have you started a fad diet and not completed it?
Problem 3: It has an end date
31 days has January and then what? The month is over, the challenge is complete.
How many people do you know who do Dry January and then go on a massive binge drinking session on February 1st? Which is a Friday this year incidentally so perfect day for a piss up.
If you want real lasting change, if you want the New You that you claim to want, why try something with an end date?
This New You should last all of 2019 and into next year and the next year and forever more.
If you want to be a different person you need to take a different approach.
So, in my opinion, no – don’t follow any of these fad diets. They reinforce dangerous ideas and build unhealthy relationships to food that can follow you for years, limiting your potential and making you feel like a failure.
Solution
What to do instead? I’m glad you asked.
If you’re ready to put your effort into something that works, find out more about my coaching here.
Don’t make 2019 the year of fad diets, make it your year of change.
Ainzlie
