Deprivation Diets NEVER Help!

As a leading international emotional eating I can tell you that we are the fattest people on earth? Do you know why? One reason is because we diet. Did you know that diets actually cause weight gain? Each diet promises a slender, healthy body, yet, as we diet more, the numbers on the scale continue to rise. As we realize we are getting fatter, we are likely to become more discouraged and anxious. We may search frantically for the latest, fastest ways to lose weight and diet more desperately. We may find that the harder we try the fatter we become! Following are some reasons to never diet again:

Diets forbid us to eat the healthy fats we need to feel satiated.

Dieting lowers metabolism.

Diets encourage us to consume diet products that are often filled with chemicals and devoid of nutrients.

Diets foster a lifestyle of deprivation and, if we feel deprived, we are likely to make up for that later by overindulging.

Diets limit our choices and restrict us. We may resent this and act out our anger by overeating.

If we severely restrict our caloric intake and we deny ourselves the pleasure of savoring foods we love, we will build resentment. If our friends are enjoying pasta and we are chomping angrily on a dry chicken breast and a few leaves of lettuce, we are guaranteeing ourselves that we will make this injustice up later by overindulging on junk foods.

The intention then is not to diet but instead to strive for balance. We do this by first educating ourselves about what foods promote high energy and health. Then choosing these foods most of the time. We can indulge now and then, noticing how we feel when we make less than self-loving choices and how we feel when we select nourishing, health-promoting foods instead. Over time, as we strive to be more mindful about our choices and their consequences, we can make more and more self-loving choices. Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons!

This is the most effective overall strategy to achieve a life of zest and radiant health. Deprivation diets are never helpful. They do cause weight gain so be gentle with yourself!

Enjoy the rest of summer! Warmly, Dr. Denise

Welcome to the Chew Tamer's Blog

Welcome! I am thrilled as a professional speaker, author, psychologist and doctor of holistic health, to be writing my first post for the Chew Tamer's Blog. My wish is for this blog to serve as a vehicle for sending you interesting and helpful information about ways to "tame your chew" as addressed in my book, The Taming of the Chew. Many of you already know that your "chew" is another name for your appetite and for many of us our appetites can be out of control at times. We also know that ways we have tried to control our appetites have failed us miserably in the past. Most of us are tired of all the messages we receive about how to look, what to say, how to be and what body size we should strive for. Most of us have yo- yo dieted and we all know now through our personal experience that diets don't work -- in fact they are harmful and cause weight gain.

I am a survivor of multiple eating disorders, and I am committed to helping people who are tired of all the confusing and discouraging messages and want to live lives of balance, radiant health and joy. We all have a desire to be and do all that we can and there are as many paths to attaining that as there are people on earth.

I will use this blog to tell you about new ways to move more smoothly along your particular "Chew Tamer's Journey". I am always discovering new tools and learning of new ways to help you connect with yourself and your spirit and to work WITH your appetite, instead of AGAINST it.

I will notify you of workshops, new products, books and other opportunities for growth and will let you know where I will be speaking and training so you can come and join me! I hope to meet many of you as our paths twist and turn and perhaps someday cross.