Why January is Considered Diet Month

January brings the beginning of a new year, a fresh start. For some it feels the perfect time to set a resolution. Whether or not you are into New Year’s resolutions or not, diet culture has a sneaky way of taking over this time of year.

Have you seen the commercials? Read the ads? Been texted or emailed a new product to help you lose weight? Sometimes it’s so embedded in our culture that we fail to questions it: the health challenges at work (measured by the number of pounds you lose), the 30 days of no sugar challenge that your friends are doing (only successful if it ends in weight loss), or your sister who wants to “detox” after the holidays (let’s hope it’ll “undo” anything consumed in December). There are many reasons why people want to get healthy this time of year, but let’s explore why you might feel the need to.

Dieting is simply a coping mechanism.

This is why you may hear professionals who work to help people establish a healthier relationship with food and quit dieting say, “It’s not about the food.” It’s really disordered eating and an emotional disorder, not a food disorder. Just focusing on the food or eating won’t help anyone deal with the emotional issues they are experiencing and trying to cope with. With that said, let’s think about all the things you might be trying to cope with after the holidays. If your to-do list felt long going into the holidays, my guess is it’s even longer now, and it’s difficult trying to get back into a normal routine with work, school, etc. We might need to return things, send thank yous, and take down all the things we put up. There’s a good chance we’re dealing with an emotional hangover from family as well. Maybe there was drama or news that you’re still trying to process. Maybe it’s missing all the family members after they leave, sending your kids back to school/college or sending relatives back to their distanced homes. If the holidays bring rest and reprieve, then there’s going to be some anxiety about returning to work or a routine that’s busier. Financially there could be some stress that needs to be coped with. There’s a lot to cope with this time of year! So how does one cope with this feeling of stress, mess, or emotional hangovers? One place that we’re led to believe we have (and should have) control over is our food and body size. This is how diet culture has decided that we can externally show that we are in control. Smaller bodies are more in control, larger bodies must be out of control. We can feel out of control at any size or shape, no matter what we eat. So maybe the rest of your life feels out of whack.

EMOTIONAL HANGOVERS ENDLESS TO DO LIST STRESS HOW DO I FIND

CONTROL?

Control your food! This will make you feel so much better and cure everything! This just isn’t true.

We need to deal with the feelings, changes, and stress that can be our reality right now. Trying to make ourselves smaller doesn’t do any of that. If you start to feel the “pull” towards dieting, take the time to ask yourself, what else is going on? Are you looking to prove something? Are you trying to get back in control of your life? Are you feeling big emotions about seeing family or saying goodbye? These are all real reasons that should be acknowledged with respect. Also remember that just because you have a thought about dieting or changing behaviors drastically, does not mean you have to act on it. You are stronger than these intrusive thoughts that pop up. If you feel yourself gravitating towards adding in something new, try to get back to the basics first and ensure you’re taking care of your basic needs. Are you getting enough restful sleep? Are you eating enough? Are you getting enough water each day? Are you connecting with loved ones? Do you have a support system or an outlet for care? Are you doing a few things a week for you? You want to make sure this foundation is steady. If these are in place, my guess is you won’t feel the pull or need to change anything because your body and soul are going to feel nourished. If our soul is fed appropriately, we will be more in-tune to ensuring we are feeding our body well.

Emily Betros

Emily is a licensed clinical social worker, certified health coach, and owner of Reclaiming Health, LLC. She specializes in body image support, eating disorders, anxiety, life transitions, mindfulness, and women's issues. More info: www.reclaiminghealth.net.