Strive for a healthier lifestyle, not a diet

"Ugh, I need to get on a diet asap" or when my relatives say, "She's on a diet" whenever I reject something unfavorable or unhealthy that doesn't seem to be worth it. Like don't get me wrong, I love stuffing my face with Costco chocolate chip cookies and kulfi (currently salivating while writing this). I may not look like it, but I have no problem indulging in unhealthy food. It's all about moderation, baby.

Growing up, I was always taunted by how I looked physically. For many years, I was skinny-shamed and called "anorexic" as if it was some funny joke. And of course, it really got to me. I was not starving myself nor was I skipping any meals; I just had a fast metabolism and I loved running around as a kid. By the time I reached the end of middle school, I figured enough was enough. That's when I started to binge eat tons of junk food in the middle of the night and watch Gossip Girls and cried myself to sleep most nights. I hated how I look and everything about my body. I finally did gain some extra weight but it consumed in places I least expected. My belly grew more round and my arms inflated a bit. I remember feeling frustrated because I wanted that Kylie Jenner hourglass look and fat booty. 

I started doing more research and by the time I entered high school, I got into weightlifting and consuming protein shakes on the regular. I religiously tracked my food intake through an app and counted my calories. I even bought a workout program to help me build the body I desired. While I eventually did come close to achieving the 'ideal' body, I still didn't feel satisfied or confident and I didn't know why.

I continued with my weightlifting journey inconsistently just until the end of college. Once I graduated, I fell into severe depression and stopped any sort of movement. I spent most of my days in bed, unintentionally starving myself just because I didn't have the energy to get up and eat. 

Fast forward a couple of months, I was sick of feeling this way so I decided to try something new. I've always gone for weightlifting because of my body goals (of course, I did enjoy it but not as much). But this time, my goal was solely to feel better and to take care of myself more. I didn't want to be so particular about what route I took; as long as I moved my body and took steps toward a healthier life, that was enough for me. I started doing yoga, going on solo walks, and dancing. I no longer cared about achieving the 'perfect' body nor striving to make every passerby droll by my appearance. That is when I found one of the keys to inner healing.

It's not about having the 'perfect' body or getting that boy to like you back. It's about doing what feels good and what authentically fulfills your inner child. While I did enjoy weightlifting for a bit, I was more focused on looking a certain way than living a healthy lifestyle, and taking care of myself was the least of my priorities. Letting all of that go and just going for what makes me feel good was what set me free. I no longer care about achieving particular body goals or meeting a certain calorie intake. I now prioritize taking care of myself and living a healthy lifestyle.

I don’t eat healthy because I’m on a ‘diet’. I eat healthy because I want to, it’s what makes my body feel good, and quite frankly, I actually prefer the taste of healthy, organic food. And like I said before, I am not shy about eating desserts any time of the day but I do so in moderation to avoid feeling bloated or nauseous. I go by what my body tells me.

The concept of a ‘diet’ is simply a facade kept up to promote consumerism. Diets are temporary and trust me, they do not last. Instead of striving for a diet, why not just strive for a healthy lifestyle instead?