6 Signs That You Are Exaggerating Your Diet

Currently, there is generally a growing concern on the part of the population to maintain a healthy diet and to follow good lifestyle habits. Women and men of all ages, for example, go to the gym daily, give preference to natural products, and try their utmost to avoid the consumption of foods and beverages that could be detrimental to their diet.

Often, the choice of the person to follow a healthy diet is not related to the aesthetic issue, but rather to a greater care with their overall health.

Luciana Kotaka, psychologist specializing in Obesity and Eating Disorders, coauthor of the books? Slim Behavior with Health and Pleasure? and “Slim Stomach versus Fat Thinking” explains that today we have a greater awareness of the benefits of healthy and balanced eating, we know how much food serves to prevent disease and provide health.


Recently, research has shown that in overweight people, even with good medical examinations, the cardiac risk is still high. This only reinforces the need to maintain the body at normal BMI. But this does not mean that we should worship the lean body, but the healthy body ?, highlights the psychologist.

However, it is also true that some people adopt a healthy diet, allied to the practice of physical activity, thinking, first of all, on a physical improvement. And of course, this is not a negative measure, quite the opposite: the person who realizes he is overweight and bothers about it, for example, should really follow a weight loss diet? that, for sure, will only bring positive results to your life and your health.

But as soon as the worry about losing weight or simply "keeping the body in shape" begins to disrupt one's life? interfering, for example, in their social relations? The situation changes completely. Some attitudes, such as letting go of social events to not eat anything other than what is established in the diet, thinking about measures to lose weight all the time, talking only about food and physical activities, among others, may be showing that the person is exaggerating in the diet.


If you have identified yourself with any of these examples, be aware: aren't you overdoing your dieting concerns? Check below for other attitudes that may be showing this.

1. You became very rigid with the choice of food.

Of course, caring for healthy eating is important, and a totally positive habit. The question begins to be worrying from the moment the person only eats what goes through his sieve as the correct food. Food is now rigorously chosen, for example, everything must be without pesticides, she always needs to know the origin of the products, all labels are read carefully, etc. ?, says Luciana.

? Many of these behaviors, of course, are important, but the difference is that these people do not allow themselves to eat at a social event and end up even withdrawing from the family, because they do not consume anything that is not preprogrammed and evaluated. Thus, when the behavior becomes impeditive and limiting is called Ortorexia ?, explains the psychologist specializing in eating disorders.


2. You became obsessed with balance

Some people get on the scales every day with the idea that they can't "lose control of their weight". Many even buy a balance so they can weigh themselves more often at home. Is this an important habit, or can it also be a sign that the person is overreacting about their diet?

Luciana Kotaka explains that the issue of weighing yourself every day is very private. Some people use this method as a way to control weight because they fear losing focus of their diet. In my view, it can become a compulsive behavior, because the ideal is to weigh only on visits to the doctor and nutritionist. Also because we know that if we eat in a balanced way, we are losing or maintaining weight; and if we lose, will the clothes report ?, he says.

? The proper way is not to become a slave to the balance, but rather to have? Lean behavior? and choose what you eat everyday focusing on quality ?, adds the professional.

3. You are moving away from your friends

Have you been refusing invitations to go out with your friends not to eat or drink anything other than what is stated in your menu ?! Avoid going to birthday parties so you don't have to? eat a piece of cake? Have you preferred to talk only with your gym colleagues or with otherpeople who care about food too?

These are some important signs that you are overdoing your dieting concerns!

Excessive pursuit of losing weight or following a wholly healthy diet often causes the person to move away from their circle of friendships and even people in their family.

? This situation is very common, as these people begin to be? Pressured? by friends, family, being easier to walk away from than changing the developed belief. The friends themselves also move away, because, besides finding these choices strange, they get tired of the demands and negatives regarding invitations offered ?, highlights Luciana Kotaka.

4. You keep a secret about your diet

Tired of hearing criticism about your concern about losing weight? or simply maintain a healthy diet ?, you avoid commenting with your friends and family that you are following a certain diet, taking any supplements or even medication ?!

This is another sign that you are overdoing your dieting concerns! After all, your friends and family probably only give advice because they care and want your good. If you? Hide? This kind of information from them is because deep down you know you're doing something wrong? herself.

So when any of them say that you are, in fact, exaggerating your dietary attitudes, how about better thinking about it?

5. You think about diet all day long

It sounds strange, but in fact, there are people who spend most of the day thinking about their diet and / or weight loss. They wake up and go to sleep planning what they will eat for their next meal, what kind of physical activity they will practice to burn off their calories, what steps can they take not to boycott? the diet etc.

So if you identify with this kind of attitude, recognize that you're overdoing your dieting!

Plan your food daily not to? Escape? Dieting, striving for physical activity every day, trying to strictly follow everything on the menu, among other things, are very positive habits, but, like everything in this life, they must have a limit.

6. Your happiness is totally related to your weight and / or your diet.

Feeling happy that you have lost a few pounds after some time on your diet is not a sin. Quite the contrary: it is a consequence of the good results achieved, probably through a balanced diet and the practice of physical activities.

The question becomes worrying from the moment that losing or maintaining weight becomes your biggest goal in life, and any? Little problem? With the progress of your diet generates discouragement and suffering.

? When being thin becomes the only goal and? Joy? In someone's life, the situation is really worrying and ends up causing a lot of problems for the non-acceptance body. Are relationships between couples, for example, affected? Women often report that they shy away from being naked in front of their husbands or even having sex because they feel terrible when they touch their abdomen and back, for example? Explains Luciana Kotaka.

The psychologist points out that if you identify with this situation, it is important to seek a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders and obesity, so that with professional help you can re-establish a bond with your body, a look with affection and body acceptance. .

The Possible Relationship Between Excessive Concern About Weight Loss And Eating Disorders

If the person is seeking to lose weight correctly, that is, following a healthy and complete diet, practicing physical activities and preferably being guided by qualified professionals (such as nutritionists and physical educators), the diet tends to bring only good results (in addition to weight loss itself, more health and quality of life).

However, when worrying about weight loss becomes excessive, in some cases, the person may seek? Alternative ways? to reach your goals faster: totally restrictive eating plans, improper use of medicines, so-called fad diets, etc. ? which possibly will damage your health.

A good example of this is the possibility of the person triggering an eating disorder.

• Eating disorders can be triggered by restrictive and unbalanced diets. Of course, the perception of body image is also very impaired, because they often occur in people with normal weight and within the expected height and bone structure ?, explains Luciana Kotaka.

According to the expert, one of the most common disorders is Anorexia Nervosa, where the person develops control over their eating, going on long fasts and / or very restrictive meals, losing weight in a frightening and pathological way.

Bulimia is another disorder, where you overeat and use self-induced vomiting to try to eliminate the excess committed. It can also be used with laxatives, diuretics and enemas. In Bulimia, a cycle of compulsion is established, where you eat and vomit ?, explains Luciana.

The psychologist also mentions Periodic Eating Disorder (BED), "where these seizures of loss of control should occur at least twice a week for a period of three months."

Ortorexia, already cited above by the expert, arises when the person becomes obsessive about the standards of what he eats, allowing himself to consume only foods considered healthy.

When to seek help?

If you have identified yourself with all or most of the signs mentioned above, it is interesting to seek professional help.

• In all areas of our life we ​​must strive for balance. And with food also works like this. Overeating, restrictive eating or even overcrowding in your choices can be pathological, and for everything that goes beyond control and causes other organic problems, you should seek treatment ?, concludes psychologist Luciana Kotaka.

So remember: following a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity are often totally positive habits, but these should not be your biggest goals for life, but some of the steps you take to have a better quality of life.

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