How to Finally Let Go of that Weight Loss Goal

<p dir="ltr">Since we’ve been talking a lot lately about the negative impact of diet culture and leaving diets in the dust, I think it's also vitally important to talk about weight loss.  Obviously, dieting is mostly about weight loss and shrinking our bodies, so how can you step away from diet culture without looking at your desire for weight loss?  </p> <p dir="ltr">You can't.  </p> <p dir="ltr">So <em>of course</em> we have to look at this goal when we're thinking about no longer dieting.  And in today's podcast, we're talking about why it's <em>so hard</em> to stop wanting to lose weight.  </p> <p dir="ltr">We start with a discussion on the messages that women get about their bodies.  Specifically, that our bodies are our most important asset. I know that I certainly got that message from society at large and also directly from my parents.  Appearances meant a lot in my house, and I was expected to dress and behave in a certain way.  My dad also teased me about my weight, and, I'm realizing now, my mom constantly commented on other women's weight.  </p> <p dir="ltr" data-redactor-style-cache="text-align: center;"> <span data-redactor-span="true" data-redactor-style-cache= "color: rgb(88, 70, 102);"><strong>The message that our bodies are the most important thing about us is everywhere.  It's impossible not to take it in.</strong></span></p> <p>So <em>of course</em> most of us have dieted at some point in our lives.  <em>Of cours</em>e we've tried to shrink ourselves to fit the expectation.  And <em>of course</em>, for the vast majority of us, it hasn't worked.  </p> <p>Letting go of the goal of weight loss is hard.  Here's a few other reasons for why that is that we talk about on the podcast:  </p> <ul> <li>It's just downright safer to be a thin woman in our society</li> <li>Weight loss is one of the few things that women consistently get praised for  </li> <li>We may have lost weight in the past and felt better</li> <li>It's hard to give up the fantasy of life in a smaller body</li> <li>We're constantly bein