Like many others in the self care and empowerment space, I’ve recently stopped dieting. You may think you already know why I don’t rely on restrictive eating anymore, but this post will take you through the five reasons why I’ve let it go. Please read to the end to discover what I do instead. No peeking allowed! Along the way, you might find new ways to truly feel confident and beautiful in your own skin.

Background: Dieting and Me

Let’s hop in a time machine and travel back to my early twenties. The year was 2000, Lucky by Britney Spears was on the radio, and I was juggling the stress of trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life.

Diet culture was everywhere, and I thought following every new plan was the key to feeling confident and beautiful. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

Fast forward to 2007 after I had had both of my babies, and I realized that chasing after fad diets was doing more harm than good – not just physically but mentally too. here’s why I finally decided to leave dieting behind.

5 Reasons Why I Don’t Diet Anymore

1. It Wasn’t Actually Helping Me Feel Confident and Beautiful: This might sound surprising, but dieting didn’t improve my relationship with myself. Instead of empowering me, it often made me feel inadequate when I couldn’t meet impossible standards. Through boudoir sessions and women’s retreats, I’ve seen firsthand how confidence comes from embracing who you are – not from a number on a scale.
2. Dieting Is Too Expensive: When I first started dieting, I spent so much on special foods, supplements, and programs. Over time, the costs became unsustainable. I’ve since redirected that money toward experiences that truly uplift me – like attending these women’s retreats with other women. These experiences remind me how to feel confident and beautiful without constantly chasing external validation.
3. It Is Focused Too Much On What I “Shouldn’t” Do: Dieting had me obsessing over restrictions rather than abundance. Instead of celebrating what my body could do, I was constantly told what it couldn’t or shouldn’t have. Now, I focus on celebrating my body as it is, whether I’m exploring new self care practices at a retreat or capturing my beauty during a boudoir session.
4. It Encouraged Comparison: Diet culture thrives on comparison, making us believe there’s a perfect ideal we need to match. But through my work, I’ve learned that beauty is unique. When women see their photos after a boudoir shoot, they often say, “I didn’t know I could look this beautiful.” That’s the power of focusing on your own journey.
5. I Found Something Better: Instead of dieting, I now prioritize self care practices that help me feel confident and beautiful. This includes nourishing my body with movement I enjoy, surrounding myself with supportive women, and capturing my beauty no through photography.

What I Do Instead to Feel Confident and Beautiful

Instead of obsessing over diets, I’ve found empowerment in embracing self love and experiences that remind me of my worth. For me, that includes:

• Attending and hosting women’s retreats where I can connect with others on a deep level.
• Creating boudoir sessions that help women see their beauty exactly as they are.
• Practicing self compassion and focusing on what my body does for me daily.

One of my retreat attendees recently said:

“After the retreat, I felt so much more confident. I didn’t just feel beautiful – I knew I was beautiful, inside and out in my own unique way.”

Your Turn to Feel Confident and Beautiful

If you’ve been chasing diets or struggling to reconnect with yourself, I encourage you to try a new approach. Whether that’s joining a women’s retreat, booking a boudoir session, or simply downloading my free guide, “How to Prioritize Yourself Without Feeling Guilty,” the key is to start.

Click here to grab your free guide now!

It’s time to embrace a life where you can truly feel confident and beautiful – no diets required. Want to dive a little deeper? Check out this blog post: 3 New Confidence Building Habits I’ve Been Trying (And One I’m Giving Up).

PS. Do you want to experience this transformation for yourself? Let’s chat about your next boudoir session or retreat experience. Send me a message here or comment below!