To Diet or not to Diet, that should be the question!

To Diet Or Not To Diet? That Should Be The Question! Diet
information is everywhere. In advertisements, on TV, in
magazines; the bookstores are crammed with books on many
different diet options – The South Beach Diet, The Atkins Diet,
Weight Watchers, The Cabbage Soup Diet. The message is ‘you
should think about your weight’. If you aren’t already thinking
about dieting, you will be before long. Most of the clients that
come to see me want to lose weight. They have typically tried
out a few diet options, but still haven’t achieved what they are
looking for.The big question is what are they looking for?

It all starts off with that glance in the mirror. What we see
staring back at us is often an image we don’t like or at least
we don’t rave about. The instant reaction too often can be – ‘I
need to go on a diet’.

You don’t like the package, so you need to alter it in some way.
But the truth is that often it is the ‘packaging’ that is
distorting the picture – distorting our image of ourselves and
not you (the package).

Consider this: Everything about you is perfect as it is, and has
a purpose. Your shape, your height, your size, your hair colour,
your eye colour, the shape of your features, and the size of
your knees – they all combine to create you. Having a negative
personal image can lead to weight gain or weight loss. Most
eating disorders occur as a result of a negative body image.

Your packaging – or your style and your way of dress – has a
huge impact on your personal image – how you see yourself, how
much you like the way you look and …how large or small you look.

Just imagine how you feel when you are presented with a gift
that is packaged with the fanciest ribbon, shiniest paper and
with care and attention. In fact, it almost doesn’t matter what
is inside the package! It is the same for you, your packaging
has an impact on yourself – how you feel about yourself, your
confidence levels, and how others treat you.

So before you go on a diet, please consider the following:

Are you wearing clothes that don’t fit you? Squeezing into an
item of clothing is just plain unflattering and although you
think you can stay in denial of your true size, every other
person that passes you in the street will notice that you are
squeezing in. You will only draw more attention which can make
you feel more sensitive about how you look. More importantly
wearing clothes that are bigger than you or too small for you
will make you look bigger.

Tips Go through your wardrobe and clear out all items that don’t
fit you. Be ruthless! You don’t have to throw them away. But
putting them in another area – like the top shelf – so they are
out of visibility will ensure you a) don’t wear them and b) you
don’t reinforce your negative concerns each time you wear them!
Cut out the size tags. This will take your mind off what size
you are wearing, and hopefully you will forget all together and
start enjoying what you wear And of course buy clothes that fit!
You think that’s just common sense? Well it is one of the
biggest wardrobe mistakes that people can make! Are you wearing
clothes that suit your body shape? Wearing the wrong shape
clothes can add pounds. A square shaped t-shirt in structured
cotton will cut off any curves you have, either roll up to
expose your stomach or make your torso look like a square box.
Oh no! However that is what we can mistakenly go for. The same
goes for a pair of jeans – a key item in all our wardrobes. They
are often cut to fit a squarer body shape. Tips Jeans for a
curved hipline – drop the waistline but ensure you have a larger
waistband, and/or no back pockets. Also, opt for jeans with
stretch. This will follow your natural contours better. For men:
go for jeans with a pleat around the waistband to accommodate a
softer belly line. Jeans for a narrow hipline – most jeans look
a dream on you, but ensure you opt for structure. Stretch could
make you look like you have puppy fat. T-shirts for a curve –
use softer fabrics with drape and soft stretch that have a curve
in the cut. Avoid front pockets, too high a neckline, square
short sleeves. Instead, feminine touches – flowers, soft
textures and chiffon, depending on your style. For men: go for
softer fabrics. T-shirts for angles – use structured fabrics,
stripes and lines, boyish cuts, and heavier stretch. You can do
pockets and sheer looks. Are you investing in yourself? If you
are having concerns about your weight then you may have put a
stop on your wardrobe spending ‘until you lose weight’. This is
just plain unfair on yourself. It can only lead to you feeling
more miserable if you are living in three outfits and haven’t
got anything you feel really good in. You may feel it will force
you to take your diet wishes seriously, but again is dieting
what you need, or what anyone needs for that matter? Tips Go out
now and buy yourself something that you feel really good in,
that suits you, that is perhaps an extravagance and that looks
slightly sexy or suave. Regardless of whether you have been
starving your wardrobe. This doesn’t require emptying your
wallet. The action in itself, spending some quality time for you
to value yourself, will improve your spirits. For women: Go out
and buy some new make-up. A fresh gloss for the lips – natural
or bright – whatever is your preference, and a shimmer or rouge
for the cheeks. Invest in good mascara and some colour or base
for the eyes. For men: invest in a new shampoo, a facial lotion
and an upgrade your shaving system. Consider this: You don’t
need to lose weight. But you do want to be healthy and have a
positive self-image. If you achieve the latter, your own
appearance and weight will find its natural way.

Being healthy is mostly achieved by finding balance. Balance
between the stress in your life and the peace you have; a
balance between your nutrients and your addictions; a balance
between being active and being passive. You also want to be
well. With the amount of toxins we have in our foods and
environment and the amount of pressure we have living in the
Noughties, your health is very important. Dieting can be
unhealthy. What is healthy is loving yourself for how you are,
appreciating that as you age your body will change, and that a
healthy self-image is far more important than whether you can
fit into a size 2. In fact, that is quite dangerous.

Dieting can be a quick fix – you see some results so you feel
like you have dealt with the problem. But if you are not happy
with your own personal image, then weight loss or not, you will
shortly be back in front of that mirror complaining about how
you look again.

www.thewardrobeshrink.com

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