Author: Jackie Mistretta BS, MSCN, HicksStrong Nutritional Coach
It's hard to believe that it is already nearing the end of January! I could have sworn that just last week there were fire works, popped corks and parties to celebrate the New Year. Gyms have filled up quickly, diets have been started, and old habits have been changed. Social media is filled with every intention of positivity, change and “new year, new me” vibes. The tradition of New Years resolutions is as old as time. According to Jones-Schenk, this tradition dates back to the Roman Empire where Julius Caesar established a new calendar every January. (2022) So what happens as the weeks continue? The gym numbers decrease, the fast food gets reincorporated and those old habits seem to pop up again. Now this isn’t true for all. But for many, we seem to quickly return to our old ways. In the civilian world, it’s no big deal. We don’t meet our goals, who cares? But what about the active duty members and veterans? The military holds its members to a certain standard. Whether its job performance, organization, PT or regulations, there is always an added pressure. This learned behavior is engrained in all members and most continue to uphold this standard even when they leave. Because of this added pressure, there are increased feelings of failure, depression, and frustration in these individuals. As a result, there is often food restriction, purging, over exercising and dieting to meet their goals. According to the United States Government Accountability Office, eating disorders in the military are more common then not. Often resulting in “co-occuring” conditions such as anxiety, depression and PTSD. (GAO, 2020) This impact on both physical and mental health can cause significant issues and danger with readiness of a service member. So, why do diets NOT work? They make you miserable! I mean, who wants to deprive themselves of the things they want and love? Not me!
Okay, so if diets do not work, then what? One of the number one reasons why diets do not work is because they fail to address the root cause of the issue. Think of a diet like a Band-Aid, it is simply a quick fix. Engaging in poor habits such as over exercising, restricting intake and following extreme diet plans only set’s an individual up for failure. If you are feeling lost and wondering what to do next, you are not alone. At #HicksStrong Inc. we offer both mental health and nutritional services to help support our active duty and veteran hero’s. Please reach out and request nutritional services with yours truly. I will teach you the skills you need in order to achieve your goals and never have to go on another diet again! Citations: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2021.1983003 https://journals.healio.com/doi/full/10.3928/00220124-20211210-04 https://www.statista.com/statistics/378105/new-years-resolution https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/why-do-most-diets-fail/ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/when-dieting-doesnt-work-2020052519889 https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-611r
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