Dr. Kerri Fullerton ND

Intuitive Eating. Health At Every Size (HAES) Doctor

antidiet

What Working on Your Health Can Look Like Without a Diet to Lose Weight

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Spring is here. That means that weight loss season is here again.

They know that dieting isn’t trendy anymore so they won’t be dieting or weight loss ads. No, they’ll be called health challenges or fitness challenges, maybe a Post Pandemic Reboot.

A diet by any other name is still a diet. What makes something a diet? Intentional weight loss. Restriction (even if that’s called moderation or sensible portions or just eating clean). It is intentional weight loss that has the dismal stats.

And I get it. You want to DO SOMETHING towards improving your health (that’s if health is something you value. It may not be and that doesn’t de-value your worth in any way). Lucky for you I have compiled a list of ways that you can work on your health without falling victim to yet another gain-lose-gain weight cycle.

10 ways to work in your health without intentional weight loss:

  1. Sleep: improve glucose regulation and mood regulation
  2. Mindfulness: improve mental health and reduce cortisol levels
  3. Movement: reduce your cardiovascular risk
  4. Debt counselling: reduce stress and improve relationships
  5. Counseling: develop emotional intelligence
  6. Self-compassion: increase motivation, self-worth and resilience
  7. Join a group of like minded people: develop a sense of belonging
  8. Social Media cleanse/Unfollow challenge: reduce your intake of not-enoughness
  9. Values work: spiritual health
  10. Laugh: improve sleep, improved stress response

Bottom line: If you’re feeling ‘meh’ there are so many things that you can be DOING to support your health that don’t involve restricting foods that you enjoy or trying to shrink your body.

Learn more about Living Life As A Rebel here. It’s how you can hold onto your anti-diet values AND work towards some specific health goals.

Join the Rebellion

Give the Gift of Body Positivity

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I’m often asked about what books to read when starting to embrace body positivity, health at every size and the anti-dieting world.

This time of year many will take some time off (I hope that you are one of them). Many will exchange gifts with their family, friends, and co-workers.

Here’s a list of a few books that you could consider gifting for yourself or someone else. Maybe you can take advantage of some Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Enjoy!

Big Fit Girl by Louise Green Fitness is a really important piece to pursuing health. But it can be tricky if exercise has negative associations for you. Fellow Canadian Louise Green does an amazing job at inspiring plus size women to embrace their inner athlete. I had the pleasure of interviewing her not long ago. You can watch it here.

Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff  This is essential reading for anybody who’s ever struggled with the ‘inner critic’. Developing compassion for yourself is quite simply the best thing you could ever do. It will allow you to develop body positivity when it feels impossible to love the skin that you’re in.

Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch As you may know, I am 90% done my certification in Intuitive Eating. This is the way to bridge the gap between the anti-dieting movement and the health movement. Keep an eye on your inbox – I’m going to be running a group program in the New Year!

Body Kindness by Rebecca Scrichfield This is a visually appealing book so it feels less like a text book than some others. Great practical tips on how you can learn to love your body and start taking good care of it.

Embrace by Taryn Brumfitt The Body Image Movement has been incredible to watch. Taryn trained for a body building competition in an attempt to achieve the ‘perfect body’. What came from that was a documentary (I cried watching it), this book and an international movement.

 

Did I miss a really good one? Please share your favourites in the comments below. I’m always looking for new books to read.

In this diet and appearance based world of ours, I find it imperative that fill my mind with different messaging.

 

Dedicated to helping you achieve peace and power with your body,

Dr. Kerri

P.S. Have you watched Your Diet Escape Plan yet?