What the Anti-Diet movement doesn't address...

There's been lots of anti-diet content floating around my feed lately. Let's chat about diet culture, intentional weight loss, intuitive eating, and what the conversation is missing (✏️Video Notes Below ↓↓↓)
📖 Patreon Book Chat, The Body is not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor: bit.ly/Body-Not-Apology
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✏️ NOTES
* Life kit Anti-Diet episode: www.npr.org/2021/12/23/106721...
* Life Kit Intuitive Eating Episode: www.npr.org/2019/05/23/726236...
* 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating: www.intuitiveeating.org/10-pr...
* Book - The Body is not an Apology: bookshop.org/a/83273/97815230...
#antidiet #dietculture #weightloss
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👋🏾 Hey! I'm Ahsante the Artist :) I make videos to help you move consciously and creatively through life. I talk about personal development, self care, wellness, social awareness, intersectionality, and mental & physical health. I hope you join me!
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[@jacquiz.6837]

This is such a good video! I went vegetarian 13 years ago for environmental reasons. I really like having "food rules" that are connected to the wellbeing of the planet in addition to myself.

[@AhsanteB]

Yessss, absolutley

[@bethbcrafts]

I liked your thoughts here. There were moments where you said something that I wanted to disagree with immediately, but then I paused and reflected on what you said and realized you were making really important distinctions. I think one of the most important things someone can do is develop a healthy relationship with food - and I think very few people actually have one. I made the decision a few years ago to focus on working out/moving my body because I want to get stronger so I can do more things I want to do that require strength. This was radical for me because previously I always equated food with fitness, and never considered the exercise side of things. So I did that for awhile and it was really good for me to break that connection. But... now I'm at the point where I'm exercising somewhat consistently but I'm struggling because I'm not eating the foods that empower me to push myself hard enough in workouts to get stronger. Your video is helping me realize I really do need to circle back and figure that out. I always think back to something I heard a long time ago. Someone who is addicted to alcohol can give it up completely. By no means is it easy, but they can make the choice and do the work to eliminate it completely from their life. Someone like me, who has issues around over eating, or even just general issues with food, has an inherent struggle ahead of them because we have to eat every day. We can't escape it.

[@TheGraceOfEbonee]

A lot of good points here. I know one thing I always try to do is eat first and then structure the health because I'm notorious for not eating for long periods and end up forgetting to eat, so my first goal was to always eat something. Now I have some medicine to help me after going to the doctors and that has helped me structure when I eat and thinking about what I eat. I know of so many people like sad that I had to get medicine, but I'm genuinely grateful because it forces me into those set structures which is helpful for me.

[@AhsanteB]

Thanks, Ebonee! And sounds like you've set up a system and structure that works for you, which is super important - that's a great point about how medicine can really be empowering. Thanks for sharing :)

[@PhilipNelson1991]

Finally! Someone has highlighted the issue of ultraprocessed food in terms of intuitive eating. Intuitively eating a whole food diet seems to work fine but UPFs are literally addictive.

[@2FINE4YOUBABYGIRL]

This was one of the most nuanced takes I’ve seen on this subject matter. Well done

[@randombaubles]

Thank you for sharing this research with us. I know I definitely need a scheduled way of eating, but now I'm finding that if I let one thing slip it all starts to go south again. My food journey this year is figuring out how to manage my indulging better.

[@kimmyyy1164]

You made a lot of good points in this video, and I'm just going to share what I'm doing because I feel like it's a good example of your point. I've noticed what a huge effect food has on my mood. I really need to have several mini-meals, the two meals a day thing was not working for me. I guess it's my blood sugar, but once I really get hungry, my energy drops in a terrible way. I can go from having a good day to wondering if it's worth it to live in 45 minutes... Orrrrr I can go grab a greek yogurt from the fridge. Sometimes I mix in some granola, or sometimes it's dark chocolate chips, because those have antioxidants or whatever, but mostly because it makes me a little happier and that's what I need from my food right now. Maybe when I'm not in such a bad place mentally, I can do more work with what I eat, but as it is I'm already doing my best. I'm eating more protein than I did in college, and definitely cut down a LOT on salt and at least a little bit on the sugar. I'm glad you fully acknowledge fatphobia as a thing, even if you've never been "really big" yourself, because the amount of people who won't and then will turn around and treat overweight people like they have a contagious disease is......... I know what it is to not only be treated like an object, but to be treated like an undesirable object, because of my appearance. I'm tall and big, and everyone knows it, and no one wants it, and that's a socially acceptable reason to treat me like trash. Which, the sex part of that is fine, I'm ace, but unfortunately it extends way past that. You'd be surprised how many people in your life treat people they find unattractive very differently. It changed the way I look at other people and the way I look at myself. It made me want to find ways to love myself more, without focusing on how I look, because I knew that would be the only way I'd survive it. I'm trying to be the person I needed years ago, you know?

[@sorchacunningham5101]

If you are interested in this topic, you must listen to the podcast: maintenance phase! It talks all about wellness culture and weight from a scientific and sociological perspective and it's so so interesting, would highly recommend!!

[@AhsanteB]

Oooh, that does sound interesting - thanks for the rec!

[@RumoHasIt]

I have shared this with so many friends today

[@t.kruste3085]

Very nuanced video, thank you! I like the classism perspective in the end :)

[@AhsanteB]

Glad you liked it!

[@celticgirl389]

Super interesting video! Thanks for your thoughts :)

[@mimirobin]

I couldn't agree more! such a well developed argument. only problem is that my home made cookies and cakes are also made to taste unstoppably good and in times of pandemic, homeoffice, not inviting ppl over it's hard to stop eating at one fresh cookie, knowing a whole batch would last 7+ if i ate only until I'm satisfied (Also they're so good. ugh, and my freezer only holds so many).. I've joined a local food sharing app where I can post my naked goods for anyone, so I don't feel pressured to eat all the cookies before they go stale. also fun fact, the two ads playing before this video were for weight loss programs 🤦🏻‍♀️😅

[@ItsRadishTime]

Have you ever read "What we don't talk about when we talk about fat" by Aubrey Gordon? I think you might find it interesting. As I recovered from my own history of disordered eating is that food rules are a fast track for me to hurt myself. And if anyone is reading this in that camp please be kind to yourself after watching this, your body deserves nourishment.

[@AhsanteB]

Thanks for the rec! Agree that your body deserves nourishment, for sure. Food rules help with that for me, but I'm not suggesting they're for everyone - I hear you.

[@darrylharris756]

Yes. Anti-diet is the smartest route to take. High alkaline foods are better than an acidic diet any day of course as you already know. However cutting fat is not the key to dieting actually we should be able to eat whatever we want even fatty foods that will help the metabolism speed up thus keeping us fit in trim. Of course that's if you like fit and trim. Me myself I don't mind having a little fat meat in my greens if you know what I mean😊🌹💛💛💛

[@KarolaTea]

I feel like a lot of focus when it comes to "healthy" eating (or yanno, mostly weight loss programs) is on what's "bad". "Bad" being calories, somehow. Stuff that's low calorie is somehow automatically deemed healthy. Like... no, sawdust is not healthy. I'd prefer to have a "positive" diet than a "negative" diet. As in, "DO eat these foods (and then some other stuff)" instead of "DON'T eat these foods". Sure, a lot of people may have an unhealthily large weight, but I'm sure just as many, if not more, people don't get enough vitamins/minerals of some sort. But usually that's not something you can see at first glance, so there's no focus on it. That food habituation sounds... odd. Does that work for everyone? Cause as you said, a lot of fast food and snacks are engineered to make you crave more... (Oh ok. commening while watching lol) Great video, great thoughts! :)

[@AhsanteB]

Thanks, Karola! Yeah such a great point about needing to focus on the nutritional content and what foods you DO want in your diet - something I realized when my vegan diet started consisting mostly of french fries, haha.

[@KarolaTea]

I mean, french fries are potatoes and potatoes are vegetables, so must be super healthy, right ;) (My grandparents swear on potatoes having loads of nutrients, so might be true, idk)

[@AhsanteB]

@@KarolaTea In researching this video I wondered if I could survive just eating french fries, and I found an episode of a show called "Freaky Eaters" (problematic title, but...) with a woman who had only eaten french fries since age 4, and she was in her 30s with a healthy daughter. So it's possible! I'll take some of the green leafy vegetables myself though.

[@KarolaTea]

Haha, good to know. Iirc in the US french fries tend to have the skin on, so more nutrients, eh. But I guess most people don't really get all their recommended vitamins and minerals, and we still live somewhat healthily. Human bodies are quite durable ^^

[@t.c.o.g.773]

Rest In Peace ☮️ 2 my morning muffin 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆ASANTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!🎁🎁🎁

[@AhsanteB]

Hahaha

[@kodasmall1433]

Watching while eating pizza. Rip

[@AhsanteB]

Lolol - do you!

[@BioBioLove]

Very interesting perspectives. But can we really not see if someone is unhealthy just by looking at them? It seems pretty clear to me that if you are 150kg at 150cm height, you are unhealthy. Same if you are 40kg. And if you are not unhealthy right at this moment, you will be tomorrow or the day after. Are we really doing anyone good by pretending that obesity and anorexia is healthy? Of course in the middle weight ground it is harder to see the health, but in the extremes it is pretty obvious. That said, I totally agree with your point that it is not our job and we shouldnt comment on it unless directly impacted. People can eat whatever they want and be whatever weight they want, but redefining health in order to appease them is not helping them in my opinion.

[@healthwalex]

Obesity is a correlation not causation. You said it yourself you can't tell how healthy someone is by looking at them, thin people have them same risks. Thinking about a 15 yr child counting calories makes me sad. Having a muffin every day isn't as harmful as underfeeding yourself especially while in developing years. I haven't seen any RD's or qualified professionals shaming vegetables or those with allergies. But instead reframing that food doesn't have a moral value. Calling a food a treat is adding moral value. There's more phycology that goes into nutrition than people realize. It sounds like you didn't go through the full process of allowing yourself whatever you want.

[@AhsanteB]

I don't think we disagree on the issues with diet culture (as you've said) but as a remedy, what works for you won't necessarily work for everyone else - which is one of my points with the video. "Intuitive eating" might work for some people - that's great for them, but it's not for me. And thinking about the nutritional value of my food (which wasn't just counting calories) empowered me to make more informed and intentional decisions about my eating. So I don't need your pity. Given that everyone's brain, body, and lived experience is different, it shouldn't be so hard to accept that your own ideology, belief system, and psychological associations around food won't be relevant or beneficial for absolutely everyone (regardless of what the belief system is). In this video, I'm sharing what has worked for me (and I was explicit about it being MY story, not a universal truth that everyone needs to adopt).