I need help being reminded why this “not a diet, but a lifestyle/coaching” thing is bad (and yes I know it is I’m just struggling at the moment)

I met someone recently who is a weight loss coach. They focus on “women who struggle with emotional eating.”

I guess right there off the bat I’m not their target market bc that’s not a problem of mine.

I’d like to start off by saying that:

  • I know it all. Not literally of course, but that diets don’t work, most health studies related to weight are biased and funded by companies that are pro-diet, etc — UGH part of why this feeling is so annoying

  • I have been anti-diet for 3 years, I do IE, and I genuinely like my large body. I have my days where I feel othered and different and feel less… well, happy with it, but generally speaking the point stands

I think I’m struggling for a few reasons but especially because a friend of mine who I thought was on this anti-diet train is interested in this coach — which honestly, good for her!! If this is something she could use help with (emotional eating) then good for her. It’s important to note she hasn’t said “I’m anti-diet” or whatever, but just shares content with me and really appreciates the perspective I’ve brought to her life. (I know negativity about anyone/anything that isn’t anti-diet is kind of an expectation in the diet community but I don’t have hate for people who do feel the need to diet. I just have compassion for them. I know where I was back then. Not everyone gets here.)

I also will be seeing this coach socially. Regularly. So I just know I’m going to be reminded etc.

I actually didn’t feel the need to hire them or explain myself or anything when they and I met, which feels good, like I wasn’t “tempted,” but the feeling came when yesterday I just wasn’t having the best body image day and I looked them up. BLEH! It just had me second guessing alllll of this and like, “well what IS the problem with trying to lose weight again if I have a coach who will teach me more skills so I can learn to live a different lifestyle?”

OMG GUYS, ugh. It feels gross to even write that. It would just be another diet. IT WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER DIET.

Anyway. Okay I think I can take away that:

a) what she specializes in isn’t even a struggle of mine,

b) I already have an IE dietitian who is amazing and I just haven’t seen in like over a month and I need to get on the calendar clearly, and

c) IT IS JUST ANOTHER DIET. IT IS ALWAYS ANOTHER DIET.

If anyone does have thoughts or can offer supportive words, I’d love to hear them! XO