To call dieting a plague might seem overly dramatic. But not to anyone who is recovering from dieting or sees the ill effects the practice continues to inflict millions of times over, year after year, on people of all ages.

Indeed, they might say drama is what’s needed to call out this quality-of-life damaging practice that consumes our productivity, our health, our spirits, our lives.

We at Green Mountain know all too well the damage dieting inflicts. For 45 years, we’ve worked with women from all over the world who are confused, defeated, and often desperate about their ongoing struggle with eating and weight  — in large part because they’ve spent decades restricting their eating through dieting.  

Eating “Healthy” vs. Dieting

Even in this day when so many people say they don’t diet anymore. Instead, they’re eating “healthy”. But when you look closely, you can still see the rigidity and restriction of the diet mentality that destroys a truly healthy relationship with food and risks destroying a person’s health along with it.

The potential outcomes range from weighing more — not less — to struggles with binge eating and digestive disturbances, to chronic inflammation and all the attendant health problems that can arise from that, including type 2 diabetes, arthritis and more.

Our 44 Reasons to Stop Dieting gives you a summary of the many, many problems associated with dieting. (Side note: Now that we’re 45 years old, it’s time to add another reason. Tell us yours in the comments below!)

Declare Independence from Dieting

Several years ago, we launched our Declaration of Independence from Dieting to do our part in calling attention to this, yes, plague. This year, as part of the US celebration of independence, we continue this effort with our new campaign to encourage women to join together to stop dieting.

We encourage you to declare your independence from dieting and restrictive eating by sharing memes that instead shout out how you’ll stop putting your life on hold and begin to #BeHerNow. “Her” refers to the woman you aspire to be…which you may be waiting to be until you like what you see in the mirror, or reach a specific size, or meet the “right” guy, and so on. We encourage you to stop waiting!

Please help us spread the word. Share this post, then find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to share some more!

In this day when concern about weight is higher than it has ever been before, help your friends and family understand that dieting takes you in the exact opposite direction you want to go.

Want to do more than just declare your independence from dieting? Do you want to learn the science behind why diets fail us and dig deeper into your own eating and behavior habits? At Green Mountain, we help women every day overcome their struggles and show them lasting change is possible.

Contact us today or call a Program Advisor: 802-228-8885