Over the past few months, I've been so very torn about what direction I wanted to take Healthful Pursuits in. I love the Health at Every Size movement- but it's not perfect, it has a lot of holes and the community that supports HAES and body love- is truly anything but loving. It had me questioning if I wanted to be associated with a community that promoted love but acted completely opposite. So I've had to ask myself some truth revealing questions. Bare with me here!
Although I love the non-diet beliefs, do I truly believe that all weight loss is a bad thing?
No. I just don't. A year ago someone close to me was very heavy, he lost his breath and would sweat when trying to tie his shoes or walk up the stairs to his home. He had sleep apnea and slept with a noisy mask and machine running. He was very uncomfortable- not because of societal pressure or because skinny models were telling him he had to be, but because his body ached. Do I believe his weight caused these things? No, it was the fact that he was a very inactive person. He worked late hours at a stressful job, often times not getting home until dinner time. Stress also contributed, and lack of sleep.
So he decided to start a diet, a very popular one -because he wanted to change the way he was eating and he didn't know where to begin. He didn't know what changes to make, what foods were benefiting him nutritionally and which were benefiting him mentally. Grocery stores just confused him (thanks to all of the marketing and false advertising of "health" food).
Now- most of society would say this is a positive change. But the latter community would say it was the worst thing he could have done. Their opinion is that he should have begun to exercise, not worry about his weight and that his problems would improve whether he lost weight or not.
I agree this would be the first best option I would recommend as well. Except he didn't have time to exercise (remember stressful, long hours + a family he still needs to see) and the little bit of exercise that he would be able to squeeze in would not have been enough to make a difference in what he was experiencing. So he did something he could do in the season of life he was in- change his eating habits and yes- he restricted himself on this diet. He did lose weight, his apnea is gone (no more machine) and he has no issues with stairs or shoe tying. He continued for about a year (lost around 40 lbs- a modest amount, not an extreme diet) and then began to incorporate exercise into his life- he was physically more comfortable and felt more confident being able to complete a workout routine.
Today? He exercises regularly, maintains a weight that classifies his as overweight still but not obese, he is confident in his food decisions. He feels better. He still enjoys his life, social situations and he still enjoys food. If he wants ice cream, he will eat ice cream. He's happy "hanging out" where he is.
I cannot say that he was wrong. I cannot say that what he did was bad for him. He is active, he can sleep without a machine and tie his shoes. He's confident. Every person is different, these are all unique situations that need to be taken client by client. What worked for him is not what I would recommend for everyone and this wouldn't be the best for everyone.
But more importantly...
There is biblical guidance for caring for our bodies that this philosophy does not address or support.
"While nothing in the Bible specifically addresses obesity and weight loss, there is much in God’s Word about the importance of our health and of taking care of our bodies. God warns us against gluttony. In the Old Testament God gave specific instructions about what His people, the Israelites, were to eat (Deuteronomy 14:1–21). Most of these commands were designed to keep the Israelites from eating harmful foods that would negatively impact their health. Some of the commands were also given so God’s people wouldn’t imitate the habits of the idolatrous people around them.
Gluttony, which is overeating or drinking to excess, is condemned in the Bible (Proverbs 23:20–21). Gluttony can lead to health risks and become a drain on one’s finances. Plus, the love of food and drink can all too easily become an idol in our lives. Anything that takes the place of God or becomes our number-one focus is, by definition, an idol and thus a sin against God (Exodus 20:3–6). Proverbs 23:2exhorts us to “put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony”; in other words, we are admonished to restrain our appetites.
Health at Every Size says to eat what you want when you want, how much you want. never restrict. This does not line up with the Bible. Just because I want or feel like eating an entire gallon of coffee ice cream by myself tonight, does not mean I should. We should be exercising self-control and wisdom in all areas of our life- including what we eat.
"While obesity and weight loss are valid concerns, we must be careful not to become obsessed with body image. Again, when something besides God becomes the major focus of life, it is sin. To constantly obsess about exercise, diet, and weight loss means we’ve allowed our bodies to become the center of our lives. Someone with a toned, fit body can be just as idolatrous as a glutton. Also, an obsession with weight loss can tip over into anorexia or bulimia, which also has a negative impact on health."
So what now?
Everyone has their own definition and beliefs about nutrition.
I'm not choosing a side.
I'm taking my clients individually.
The HAES philosophy may be exactly what someone needs who struggles with anorexia/bulimia or fear of food.
Helping people learn to eat in a way that nourishes their body and enables them to eat intuitively may be exactly what someone else needs.
Someone may want to lose weight. What then? I respect that. I have lost weight, and while it's been a while since I've lost any more weight...do I want to be back to where I was before? No. I truly don't and I don't expect everyone else to accept being obese or very overweight and just learn to be happy there. I would present the facts, the science, and together we'd work to make changes in their lives that would result in weight loss.
My goal and dream has always been to be helpful to my clients. To be encouraging and supportive of their goals. To help them live a healthy lifestyle (no matter their weight) and to help them navigate between all of the very confusing false advertising and new nutrition products thrown at us. and it's time I get back to doing that.
No matter which path we need to take together- I'm here to help you sort through fact vs. fear, and walk with you to meeting your goals.
