Does Dieting Work for Black People?
Hey everyone!
I hope that your Monday is going well so far!
I wanted to talk to you about the infamous “D word”… dieting
For many of us, we have tried dieting in some form or fashion. Dieting looks like:
restricting calories
going keto to lose weight
becoming vegan to lose weight (with no desire to commit to it as a lifestyle)
trying various weight loss programs such as Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, or Jenny Craig
Trying the macronutrient diet
Trying the blood type diet
Trying the Mediterranean diet
Only drinking smoothies (no solids)
Restricting all foods that you deem “bad”
I’ve put all of these out here because many people don’t know that they have been going on different diets for years! (The word “diet” in our culture has become synonymous with eating in a certain way to lose weight.)
And for many Black folk, we have believed that these trends described above are not diets but a healthy lifestyle.
We have believed that eating collard greens and cornbread were the “bane to our existence”.
But what were the results sis?
What transpired bro?
Y’all might have lost weight and then gained it all back a year later. Or maybe you were the lucky one that could keep it off for years (until something stressful happened at home or work).
Well, I came here to tell you (or… technically you came here since you’re on my blog lol) that there is a better way!
So what are some things you can do?
Get to the root… what is the reason you are struggling with your health?
Is there a genetic factor? Are you stressed all the time? Are you getting sleep? Chronic stress and sleep can contribute to many health challenges (including weight gain).
Commit to something you ACTUALLY like. If you like fried chicken and pizza, that doesn’t mean that you have to give them up forever.
Instead, you just need to bring some balance to your diet by incorporating other foods and lifestyle changes (such as sleeping well, drinking water, finding veggies/fruit that you like, and finding ways to decrease stress in your life).
Understand the value of Black foods. If you or someone you know uses too much salt or sugar, that doesn’t mean that Black food is bad.
People from across the African Diaspora cook our foods in various ways (and some people just like salt and sugar more than others). Just for reference, foods like beans, watermelon, okra, greens, stew, and cornbread are great healthy options filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. So, instead of trying to buy that boxed “health product” at Trader Joe’s (only because you think it’s better), maybe try some of the foods I listed if you like them.
Need more help? You can sign up for a group class with your church, job, or even with a group of friends or family. Learn more below:
Have a great day!
Jill
