Magic pills and silver bullets
If you’ve been thinking that it’s time for a healthy change, keep in mind that there’s no silver bullet or magic pill capable of remedying the things you seek to improve. The commercial diet industry is so successful because they sell magic and ideas – not truths and guides for lasting change.
We buy diet books because we see people on the cover who look great in their new, slim-fit jeans. We think, “If those complete strangers can do it, so can we.” But that’s not necessarily true. The people who have found success with particular diets have lost weight because they worked diligently to make it happen – not because the diet was an easy “end all, cure all” solution.
Perhaps the most discouraging thing about diets, however, is that we’re trained to blame ourselves when they just don’t work … when we don’t get the results we hoped for. Shifting blame is a psychological marketing tactic. When we blame ourselves, we’re not blaming the company that sold us the diet, even if that diet is at least partly to blame.
Don’t beat yourself up when you make unhealthy decisions – at times, we all eat things we shouldn’t or get too little exercise. Don’t spend energy blaming yourself. Instead, focus on taking steps that will lead you closer to your goal. If, for example, you ate a little more today than you should have, just get a little more exercise than you normally would. These healthier habits are the true magic pills.
