Monday Dieter

Hi! It’s Me! Monday Dieter!

Here’s the short story: I’m back!!

If you’re interested in the long story, keep reading!

I stopped writing and posting. I was overwhelmed by things like the social media algorithms and the self help space. As I got closer to my Master’s in Nutrition and Food science, I didn’t feel right being part of the anti-diet culture when I knew how important eating can be for health. I was literally all over the place. I didn’t know who Monday Dieter was or who I was.

Over the holidays, yet another family member confided in me that they suffered from disordered eating when they were younger also. And I was reminded of all the people I have spoken to since Monday Dieter was born. People I’ve known my whole life pulled me aside at weddings, people I barely knew sat down next to me at baby showers, my own sister sharing her fears around food over a cup of coffee. Ive learned, we are all secretly grappling with our complicated relationships with food, the scale, our bodies. And I know, holding it in, feeling alone with your thoughts, can be exhausting.

It occured to me, Monday Dieter is a space for us. My people. To feel validated, vindicated and together. It’s the place where I try to bring words to our complicated relationships with food, diets, clothing, our bodies, the scale. A relationship that’s constantly changing, evolving, regressing, fluctuating.

I don’t care if my post gets 1 like, or 7 million, because you helped me build this community and we need to keep letting ourselves know that some days we’re gonna eat great, some days we’re going to shovel rotisserie chicken in our mouths standing at the sink. Some days we’re going to walk around like Kimmy K in Mykonos, and other days Costco leggings. Some days the serving size of Oreos will be 2, other days it will be 22. We might impulse buy $197 of anti-aging cream but never use it because we fall asleep every night with our kids at 8:30. I’ll tell you when I eat so many pistachios I get a blister on my thumbs because I know you’ve been there or are there. So with that being said, hey girl hey! Monday Dieter is back.
Xoxo gossip girl

Can I tell you why I’m super proud of this photo? It’s my 3 year old daughter enjoying a pink donut with rainbow sprinkles this morning before school because she was a “brave girl” at the doctor. I’m super proud of this photo because if you would have told me 10 years ago I’d be a relaxed mom who let her kids eat donuts for breakfast as a “reward,” I’d say no way. But because I have worked so hard on my relationship with food, I’m hoping (no guarantees) that I don’t pass them on to my daughter. Because I can eat a donut without berating myself, so can she because I let her enjoy that pink processed goodness. That’s the work I’ve done mentally. Because I’ve also done work academically, studying to be a Registered Dietitian, I also no longer look at food as bad or good, which also helps me eat food without labeling myself as bad or good. No guarantees here on how she’ll turn out, I just hope my healthier relationship with food, is healthier for her too!

So not motivated lately to get into my pre pregnancy clothes but also annoyed nothing fits so reminding myself of this this morning. Thought you might also need the reminder!

It’s expectations, it’s other people’s opinions, it’s fear, shame, embarrassment, failure. I always remind myself to work on shedding these things when I’m fixated on pounds. These, I’ve learned, weigh a lot more on the scale.

I went to my 8 week post baby check up and held was breathe as I stepped on the scale. Before I had a moment to process the number on the scale, a number that for me is very high, the nurse proclaimed, “wow, you’re at my goal weight.” I’ve thought of that moment often and it’s a good reminder for us all. Be proud of where you are today. Ya know, One of the reasons I started Monday Dieter was to speak my self talk out loud in the hopes it would help others. So this is a current reminder/mantra I’m saying 💜

You’re not giving yourself enough credit. 💜🌈⭐️💪🏼

When I’m tempted to start a diet with strict compliance I need tools to stop myself. The reason I need to stop myself is because I know it’s not actually what I need. I’ve learned that for me, overeating, starvation, or strict dieting isn’t a problem, it’s a symptom. Plus I know that if it’s too strict it’s not sustainable. My biggest tool is self talk. And one of the reasons I started Monday Dieter is to give you a glimpse into my self talk in the hopes it helps you too. The self talk “mantra” I go to most often when I’m tempted to start a strict diet is, “nothing of importance in my life changes if I lose a few pounds.” When I say that what I mean is, my family loves me just the same, my kids love me just the same, I just as qualified for my job....and on and on and on. Weight is not a personality trait. We should all spend more time counting blessings that counting calories.
Call to action this week, I’d love if all of you can tag just 1 person who isn’t following this account but you think should be following this account. I’d be so appreciative!! Happy Monday!

Is it you? Do you need to hear this today? Comment 👂 if you did:)

This is something I remind myself of daily! Hope it helps you too 💕happy weekend