Dieting and Eating Disorders


The Road to an Eating Disorder is Paved with Diet Rules.

Here are a list of rules that relate dieting and eating disorders. It's a difficult trip that no one ever comes out happy. If these rules look familiar then I would strongly suggest you look for a healthier road before it is too late. Take alook as well at The Thin Commandments


Diet rule #1: "Calories are bad and will cause weight gain."

Avoiding adequate calories lowers metabolism, increases fat storage enzymes, decreases fat releasing enzymes, and may increases the number of fat cells. This means we store fat more easily from fewer calories. Muscle tissue is lost which further decreases your metabolism and energy needs. Under eating is abusive and causes physical and mental changes such as irritability, fatigue, depression and hair loss that will not reverse until you eat enough.


Diet rule #2: "Eat the least possible food and ignore hunger."

Putting your body's needs off constantly by trying to eat so little can cause an enlarged appetite and cravings (often for high fat and sugar foods). This can be terrifying and cause fear of loss of control. If you do not satisfy your hunger, it will never leave you alone. You will end up thinking constantly about food, cooking, shopping, watching people eat, or have other indications of hunger. Satisfy it with substantial amounts of food and it will leave you alone. Many diet foods, rice cakes, carrots, a piece of fruit, etc. do not contain a substantial amount of calories to satisfy your needs and will leave your body hungry soon after. Letting yourself stay constantly hungry or get too hungry can result in overeating and bingeing. Give yourself real food. Eat substantial meals and snacks. Diet soda, coffee, tea, gum, excessive water and other appetite suppressants prevent you from being in touch with your true hunger and body's needs.


Diet rule #3: "Fullness is bad and causes weight gain."

Being full does not cause weight gain. It is normal for your stomach to get rounder after eating but this is temporary. You do not look different just because you feel full. Being full from a normal meal means that you can be satisfied for several hours and can be free from the distractions of hunger to concentrate on other things. Occasional overeating (which is normal) will not lead to weight gain. Your body averages up it's needs over several days time. People who under eat can have altered signals of hunger and fullness and can get full on small amounts of food that do not satisfy their body's needs.


Diet rule #4: "Snacking is bad."

Snacking between meals keep your blood sugar more even and contributes to better mod, energy, and better ability to handle stress and PMS. If you snack between meals, you won't get over hungry and as likely to overeat at the next meal. Regular meals and snacks give your body the message that there is no starvation and prevents it from going into fat storage mode.


Diet rule #5: "Fat is evil, diet foods are best."

Fat is needed in the diet to prevent essential fatty acid deficiency, and to provide and help you absorb fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, E, D, K). Certain vegetable oils improve blood cholesterol levels. Fat does not make you fat! Fat is burnt for energy just like protein and carbohydrates. Too many calories from any source will be stored as fat. Fats are digested more slowly and help provide hunger satisfaction. Some fat with a meal will help you stay satisfied longer so you won't be hungry so soon after eating. Moderate fat in the diet helps prevent cravings and bingeing. Diet foods are more expensive and are often loaded with extra sugar and food additives.


Diet rule #6: "You have to exercise to burn off calories so they won't be stored as fat."

Your body uses most of the calories you need for all kinds of reasons (producing heat, growing hair and fingernails, replacing cells, producing hormones, enzymes, etc.). Even if you do no exercise your body will stay the same weight, if you follow it's built-in regulation system called hunger and fullness. Exercising when you don't get enough calories is dangerous and unhealthy. It causes you to lose muscle and over stresses your body. It can cause heart damage and the loss of your menstrual period. Feeling like you have to burn off what you eat is entrapping and robs you of the joy of exercising to feel good and improve your stamina.