I’ve recently been reflecting on how my professional practice changed once I started learning about the Non-Diet Approach. There’s a saying “No one is more zealous than a new convert” and I recognise that this was 100% true for me, to the detriment of my clients. My enthusiasm for this new approach meant that I swapped ideologies but kept the prescriptive attitude. Not helpful. My intentions were good, but the impact was less so.
To those clients who came on board when I was a ‘newly converted’ non-diet dietitian: I want to say that I’m sorry. Sorry if I made you feel ashamed for wanting to lose weight. Sorry if I made you feel guilty for not eating intuitively every time. Sorry for not properly considering how hard it is to turn your back on a lifetime of dieting. I didn’t mean to make you feel this way, but I probably did, and didn’t realise that’s what was happening.
And I’m sorry if any of you read my posts and feel this way. As I’ve learned more and grown as a person, I’ve been able to better appreciate the need to meet people where they’re at, not where I might think they need to be. There are times when I don’t get it right though, so please call me in if you think I need to consider a different point of view.
I understand the drive to want to shrink your body and the hope that a new diet offers. I understand the confusion that comes from mixed messages about healthy eating and the clarity that a diet offers. If I share information with you about the harmful consequences of dieting and you still choose the diet path, I’m not going to challenge you, because you are the boss of your body. I promise to try my best to meet you where you’re at.