I know you’re in shock that I’m actually a proponent of a diet, so I’ll give you a moment to recover. Okay. Are you ready?

Introducing . . .

The Media Diet

It’s the only diet that I would ever encourage my clients to go on.

With the Media Diet you will:

• Lose your self doubt about your appearance
• Reach your goal of liking yourself and the way you look
• Melt away your resistance to feeling good about yourself right now
• Maintain your belief in your own attractiveness

GUARANTEED!

Here’s how you do it:

For the next week, as much as possible, limit your exposure to images of:

1) Ultra thin women and men
2) Advertising of diets and diet foods

Both components of the media diet are important.  In a study published in 2002, scientists reported that the introduction of television in Fiji completely changed women’s views of their bodies.  Prior to the introduction of television, most Fijian women were satisfied with the way they looked no matter what their sizes. 

Less than a year after television became available, at least 77% of women reported dissatisfaction with their bodies and a desire to lose weight.  In fact, there were no reported cases of anorexia or bulimia in Fiji until television was introduced!  Other studies have shown that at least 24% of women on television are actually underweight by BMI standards - which means that many are starving themselves to fit the required norm.  Television sets us up for body hatred and a desire to achieve body weights that even mainstream doctors deem too thin.  Avoid it!

Additionally, Americans spend approximately $60 billion a year on diets and diet products.  This is an incredible statistic considering all of the problems with diets including the fact that at least 95% of dieters gain back all of the weight they lose - plus a few extra pounds - within 3-5 years.

So let’s send a message to television producers and advertisers that we’re not interested in seeing ultra thin actors and ads for diet products.  And, more importantly, let’s change what we look at every day so that our eyes are not deceived into thinking that underweight is an ideal.

While on the Media Diet, use your “willpower” to avoid the following:

1) Typical fashion magazines (it’s tempting to peek in the line at the grocery store but distract your attention with something else)
2) Internet fashion sites (except as described below)
3) Soap operas
4) Other daytime television (this is the time when diet ads are most prevalent)
5) Primetime sitcoms
6) Newspaper ads

Now, there is no need to starve for media on the Media Diet.  Take this time on the Media Diet to replenish your system with healthy alternatives:

1) Check out some really fun online plus size magazines, like Plus Model Magazine, Venus Diva Magazine and BBW Magazine.
2) Check out plus size fashion groups, like Fatshionista and the livejournal Fatshionista community.  Enjoy all the pictures of fabulous fat women of all shapes and sizes dressing up in their favorite clothes.  Post your own too.  And for more gorgeous photographs, check out Adipositivity. And don’t forget our very own plus-size fashion blog, Your Fashion, Your Way.
3) Read great Fat Acceptance blogs.
4) Check out this youtube video showing the process of putting a model’s image on a billboard.  You won’t believe all of the airbrushing!
5) Watch shows starring fabulous plus-sized women and men, like Huge on ABC Family.
6) Take a little field trip to Brooklyn (if you’re in the area) and check out stores like Re/Dress NYC 109 Boerum Place, Brooklyn, NY 11201 and Lee Lee’s Valise, 368 Court St Brooklyn, NY 11231.  Seek out size positive stores in your area.
7) Spend some time perusing all the great articles and blogs on More Of Me To Love including mine!

I guarantee that after a week spent on the Media Diet, you will look and feel better about yourself!  Let us know how it goes!

Golda is a certified holistic health counselor and founder of Body Love Wellness. She counsels women and men throughout the country on how to get off the dieting roller coaster, give their bodies what they really crave, and love their bodies and themselves. Golda's counseling and activism work have been featured on CBS's The Early Show, ABC's Nightline and Time Out New York. For more support with healing your relationship with food and your body, get your free copy of Golda's Top Ten Tips For Divine Dining by clicking here.