You Were Never The Problem
It is not your fault.
I want to start there because everything else I'm about to say builds on that. No matter how old you are, you have been inside diet culture your entire life. It didn't start with you and it wasn't your choice.
We grew up watching TV shows where the female lead was always on a diet, always unhappy with her body, always chasing something smaller. Where fat jokes were just punchlines. Where the entire cast was a very specific size and that size was presented as the standard. We absorbed all of it before we even had the language to question it.
This isn't new. Judy Garland was pressured by directors to look a certain way. Marilyn Monroe was told to lose weight. Kate Winslet was told she'd only ever get "fat girl roles." Generation after generation of women is scrutinized, picked apart, asked what they eat and how they stay thin, as if their bodies were public property. It has always been there.
Is it getting better? A little. We're starting to see more body diversity on screen. Body positivity comes in waves. But will diet culture ever fully go away? Honestly, I don't think so. And here's why.
Money.
The wellness and diet industry is worth billions. If a celebrity is doing a certain workout, that company trends and profits. Green powders, weight loss pills, supplements, detox teas, diet plans sell because they're targeting the most vulnerable and universal human insecurity. Every single person on this planet has at least one thing they don't like about their body. Marketing is not an accident. It’s a choice. That insecurity is the product. They need you to believe you're broken so you keep buying the fix.
So when you look back at every diet you tried, every thing you hated about yourself, every time you felt like you just didn't have enough willpower, you were operating inside a system designed to make you feel that way. You were never the problem.
Health is not a punishment. It shouldn't be difficult. Nutrition is actually simple but marketing is what makes it sound complicated. They need it to sound complicated so you keep buying solutions.
Here's the truth about every quick fix, every pill, every detox, every plan that promises to change everything: if it actually worked, everyone would be doing it and we would not have any health problems anymore. We wouldn't still be having this conversation. A quick fix doesn't exist. It never did. Our bodies don't change overnight and they were never meant to.
Don't get me wrong, changing habits, even small ones, is daunting. We're creatures of routine. The thought of doing things differently can feel overwhelming before it even begins, but it is doable. It doesn't have to be dramatic or extreme or expensive.
It can be simple. It can even feel good.
When you treat your body with care, it gives you energy, mental clarity, and the ability to actually show up for your life and everything you want from it. Your whole life shouldn't be spent focused on how your body looks. We only live once, on a tiny planet, part of a universe alongside billions of others. That time is for accomplishing your dreams, showing up for the people you love, and living fully. Food is what fuels all of that. That's the whole point. Not a size. Not a number. Just feeling good enough to live your dreams out fully.
You were never the problem. And you never needed to be fixed.
— Ivy ♡
Disclaimer: This blog is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or personalized nutrition counseling. It is not a substitute for care from a qualified healthcare professional. If you are struggling with disordered eating, support is available through the Alliance for Eating Disorders at 1-866-662-1235.