It’s no secret that America has a problem with obesity. We’re also a society obsessed with physical appearances. Consequently, an entire industry has emerged, largely based on myths and fads, dedicated to weight loss.

While wanting to be healthy is commendable, experts continue to agree that dieting doesn’t work. Diets are consistently ineffective, only serving to heighten insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. Moreover, they create stress around something as necessary and natural as eating.

Eating should be enjoyed, not anxiety-inducing.

Stop stressing over the small stuff and learn to appreciate your body on your own terms. Listen to your body—it knows what’s good for you.

In a world where we get most of our information from the Internet, we’re inundated with contradictory messages, especially about dieting and weight loss. Do yourself a favor: put away your computer and listen to your body instead. It knows what it wants and needs better than you might think.

Intuitive Eating: The Practical Path to Health

Eat whatever you want, whenever you want. This doesn’t mean binge-eating at your nearest fast-food joint, but there are practical ways to stay healthy without dieting. This philosophy is increasingly advocated by nutritionists and psychologists. Known as intuitive eating, it encourages us to let our instincts guide our diets.

Key tenets of intuitive eating include:

• Say no to diets and stop feeling guilty for eating what you desire. Want a slice of pizza? Have a slice of pizza.
• Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full. Avoid emotional eating; eat for physical nourishment.
• Prioritize exercise for both physical and mental health.
• Listen to your body. It knows what’s good and bad for it. Feeling terrible after eating certain junk foods? That’s your body sending a message.

Simplify and Focus on the Present

Intuitive eating helps you realize life is too short to stress over details like what to eat and drink. We all have enough to worry about; don’t let trivial details dictate your happiness.

As actress Cameron Diaz stated in a recent interview with Cosmopolitan UK:

“Wellbeing is an equation. Remember, you don’t have to have the whole cake, you can have a piece. Don’t deprive yourself. Have fun. Just be self-aware. If your equation is 80% good, 20% bad most of the time, then a little movement toward the center isn’t going to affect you much.”

Life is about finding a practical equilibrium. Research shows that embracing a simpler lifestyle, from wardrobe choices to diets, can make us more efficient and successful. Simplify your daily life and focus on the present.

Many successful people have adopted this mentality. Warren Buffet, for example, attributes his youthfulness and energy to eating like a 6-year-old, drinking five 12-ounce servings of Coca-Cola daily and eating whatever he wants. While we’re not necessarily advocating that much soda, Buffet, at 84, remains exceptionally active and successful.

Similarly, Michelle Obama, known for advocating good nutrition and exercise for children, has stated that diets can be harmful. The former First Lady emphasizes that how we feel about ourselves is far more important.

Citations

• The Case for Eating Whatever You Want (Science of Us)
• 8 Habits of Insanely Fit People (Huffington Post)
• Reclaim Your Time and Energy: 5 Ways to Take Your Life Back from Food (Huffington Post)
• 10 Secrets of Intuitive Eating (Huffington Post)
• Medicare’s Search for Effective Obesity Treatments: Diets Are Not the Answer (PubMed)
• A Burden Shared (The Economist)
• 10 Things the Weight Loss Industry Won’t Tell You (Market Watch)
• Diet and Exercise Not Enough, Obesity Experts Say (CBS News)
• Cameron Diaz: Social Media Is a Crazy Ass Experiment on Society (Cosmopolitan UK)