The First Step in to Losing 100 Pounds: I Stopped Dieting

For years, dieting ruled my life. If I could just lose weight, all my problems would be solved—or at least, that’s what I told myself.

I tried everything. Low-carb, calorie counting, juice cleanses, fasting—you name it, I gave it a shot. I even experimented with herbal remedies that made my hair stand on end! And here’s the thing: I was great at dieting. I could follow the rules, lose weight, and feel like I was finally winning.

But then, life would happen. I’d lose my steam, slip back into old habits, and before I knew it, I’d gain all the weight back—and then some. Over the years, I probably lost and regained hundreds of pounds.

Each time, I felt like a failure. If you’ve ever been stuck in that cycle of dieting, losing, and regaining, you know how frustrating and disheartening it is. It feels like you’re just one ‘perfect’ diet away from freedom.

But here’s the truth that changed everything for me: diets don’t work.

For decades, I believed dieting was the only way forward. The idea was simple: stick to the plan, lose the weight, and finally, everything would fall into place. And at first, it seemed to work.

Every new diet brought a rush of hope. I’d feel excited and determined, convinced that this time would be different. I’d lose some weight, and for a moment, I’d feel proud and confident.

But then something would derail me. Maybe it was a celebration, a stressful day, or just life being unpredictable. The minute I slipped up, it was like all that progress disappeared.

I’d binge, feel guilty, and promise myself I’d start over tomorrow. Tomorrow would turn into next week, and before long, I was back where I started, feeling like a failure.

What I didn’t realize for years was that it wasn’t a lack of willpower holding me back. It was the dieting itself that was the problem.

So why doesn’t dieting work? Why does it feel like no matter how hard we try, we always end up back at square one?

The answer is simple: restriction.

Dieting forces us into a constant state of deprivation. Whether it’s cutting carbs, counting calories, or banning certain foods, the message is always the same: “You can’t have this.” And what happens when something is off-limits?

You crave it even more.

It’s like being told you can’t think about chocolate. The moment you hear those words, your brain fixates on chocolate. Suddenly, it’s all you want.

This is a completely natural reaction—it’s your brain rebelling against the restriction. And when you finally give in? That’s when the bingeing starts.

For me, every binge was followed by a wave of guilt and shame. I’d beat myself up, convinced I was the problem. I’d tighten the rules, promise to be stricter, and try again.

But this cycle of restriction, bingeing, and guilt didn’t make me feel in control. It made me feel powerless. And I knew if I wanted to break free, I had to stop trying to control food altogether.

The decision to stop dieting was terrifying. After years of relying on strict plans, I wasn’t sure how to handle food without rules. But I was done fighting the same battle over and over.

So, I made a radical decision: I gave myself permission to eat all foods.

No more “good” or “bad” labels. No more cheat days. No more eliminating entire food groups. Everything was fair game—even carbs.

At first, this felt counterintuitive. How could eating what I wanted possibly lead to weight loss?

But here’s what happened: food stopped having so much power over me.

Without the labels and restrictions, I didn’t feel deprived anymore. I didn’t feel the need to binge because nothing was off-limits. Food became more neutral—something I could enjoy without guilt.

I also set one simple rule for myself: most of the time, I’d aim to eat foods that made me feel good, and some of the time, I’d eat for pure enjoyment. No drama, no guilt, no willpower battles.

This wasn’t a free-for-all. I had to take personal responsibility for my choices and set boundaries that worked for me. And that was key—figuring out what a healthier relationship with food looked like for me.

With dieting off the table, I had to learn a new way of eating—one that was guided by my body’s signals instead of external rules.

I started with two simple principles:

1. When I felt hungry, I ate.

2. When I felt full, I stopped—no matter what was left on my plate.

At first, this felt scary. After years of ignoring my body’s signals, I wasn’t sure I could trust them. But I kept practicing, and slowly, it got easier.

I noticed patterns. Certain foods left me feeling energized, while others made me feel sluggish. When I ate in a way that satisfied me, I didn’t feel the urge to overeat.

This process of tuning in—of asking myself what my body needed—helped me rebuild trust with myself. And that trust became the foundation for real, lasting change.

Stepping away from dieting wasn’t just about food. It was about letting go of the idea that my worth was tied to my weight or what I ate.

Diet culture tells us that happiness, success, and acceptance are waiting for us on the other side of weight loss. But that’s a lie.

Diets keep us chasing an impossible goal, always feeling like we’re not good enough as we are. They trap us in a cycle of restriction, shame, and frustration.

When I stopped dieting, I stopped waiting to feel good about myself. I realized I could be kind to my body and take care of it right now—no matter what I weighed.

And here’s the best part: by breaking free from diet culture, I actually lost the weight I’d been trying so hard to lose.

But this time, it wasn’t about the number on the scale. It was about feeling free, confident, and in control of my own life.

Letting go of dieting wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight. But it was the most important step in my journey to losing 100 pounds at 50 years old.

If you’re tired of feeling trapped by food, I encourage you to try something different. Let go of the rules. Give yourself permission to eat. Start listening to your body and asking what it really needs.

It might feel scary at first. It certainly did for me. But I promise you, it’s possible to step off the dieting rollercoaster.

You can find freedom with food. You can trust yourself again. And yes, you can lose the weight in a way that feels good—not punishing.

If you’re ready to start this journey, I’ve created a free course that dives deeper into these ideas. It’s packed with practical tools and strategies that helped me, and I know it can help you too.

Clickthe button below to get started, and let’s take the first step toward freedom together.