The No-Nonsense Truth About New Year’s Resolutions and Dieting
The new year is here, and while it should feel like a clean slate, I can’t help but roll my eyes at the collective frenzy of goal-setting and "new year, new you" propaganda. It’s not the weather or lack of sunlight that irritates me—it’s the constant narrative that January is the magical time to completely overhaul your life, especially when it comes to weight loss and dieting.
Let me be blunt: a new year is not some magical reset button, and dieting is not the answer to whatever you’re struggling with. In fact, I will die on the hill that dieting ruins lives, health, and self-worth.
Here’s why.
Dieting is a lie!
Dieting is a $72 billion industry for a reason. It thrives on making you feel like you’re not enough. It whispers (or shouts) that you’re lazy, undisciplined, and weak if you don’t conform to a certain standard.
It tells you that happiness and worthiness are just 20 pounds away. But let me tell you something the diet industry won’t: strict dieting doesn’t work long-term. And loosing weight doesn’t make you happier. I’ve been 100 lbs to 200 lbs and I wasn’t any happier at any weight until I found compassion for myself at any weight.
The cycle is insidious. You start a new diet, full of hope and promises of transformation. Maybe you lose a few pounds, but eventually, your body, because it’s designed to survive, not be starved pushes back. You gain the weight back, and sometimes more, and then the shame kicks in. And who profits from your shame? The corporations selling you another "solution."
It’s not just about money; it’s about control. Diet culture thrives on keeping people distracted, insecure, and desperate. And it’s not just "them" doing it—governments and corporations fuel this narrative because it keeps people chasing an impossible standard rather than challenging the systems that make them feel this way in the first place.
What You Should Do Instead
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you shouldn’t set goals or make changes in your life. Growth is good. Movement is good. Balanced eating is good. But those things don’t require subscribing to some rigid, self-punishing program that promises happiness as soon as you hit your "goal weight."
If you want to feel better in your body, here’s the real, unsexy truth:
Move your body in ways you enjoy. Whether it’s dancing, walking, yoga, or lifting weights, find something that feels good and sustainable.
Eat in a way that nourishes you. This doesn’t mean cutting out entire food groups or obsessing over macros. It means finding balance and honoring what your body needs. If the pressure is to much make a goal something like “I will eat two servings of fruit every day or every other day” or “I will replace two processed meals a week with meals made from scratch using whole foods”
Shift your focus from aesthetics to function. Instead of asking, “How can I look better?” ask, “How can I feel stronger, healthier, and more energized?”
Get curious about your goals. Are they rooted in self-love and self-care or are they fueled by societal pressure and shame?
That diet you’re eyeing? It’s not going to give you the fucking life you want. It won’t heal your relationship with your body, fix your self-worth, or magically solve your problems. But you know what might? Ditching the diets altogether and focusing on sustainable, compassionate choices that support your overall well-being.
Let this year be the one where you stop trying to “fix” yourself and start treating yourself like you’re already worthy because you are. You really are already fucking worthy, especially and specifically the pieces you can’t quite love yet.
XOXO,
Tiffany