Eat Well Live Well

Say no to Spring Break diets!

By March 19, 2012December 6th, 20143 Comments

1-Beach GrilBikinis & bathing suits + toning up + beaches + dieting + friends + losing weight + vacation + fun + watching what you eat = Spring Break 2012? Wait a minute –something about this doesn’t sound right. Because it’s not!

Spring Break is supposed to be about taking time off from school to refresh your mind, body and spirit. But how many of you know friends who ‘prepare’ for Spring Break by spending extra time at the gym to “tone up”, going on a diet, trying to lose weight, or watching what they eat?

This “I’ve got to lose weight before Spring Break” mentality can be very dangerous. It wreaks havoc on the body and on the mind. It disrupts metabolisms, weakens immune systems, and often is followed by “rebounding” —gaining weight after the “pre Spring Break diet” ceases –which can lead to increased dissatisfaction with one’s body, depression, binges, and it can also lead to eating disorders. Not to mention, this way of ‘prepping’ is not much fun at all.

Pledge to be Different!

So what can you do to prevent this from happening to you and your friends? You can sign the Spring Break Pledge 2012!! Even if you don’t get a “Spring Break”, please consider signing the pledge to encourage healthier behavior for all of us.

RELATED VIDEO: Bathing Suit Worries

 

Join the discussion 3 Comments

  • Eugene Hung says:

    Hi Kathleen,

    It’s Eugene over at the +Parenting blog. Sounds like a great declaration of independence! Where is your bio picture taken by the way?

  • Liz says:

    I really enjoyed this article and the points Kathleen made. However, I’m really confused as to why this photograph was chosen to accompany the post. It sends the exact message that the post was trying to fight against, and therefore negates what Kathleen said and perpetuates the dangerous fad of spring break dieting.

    I do hope the photograph gets changed. There is nothing “fun, more fun” about dangerous dieting.

    • Hi Liz,

      The pic was actually talking about the “Spring Break Diet” being “fun, sun, and more fun” and really had nothing to do with what one is eating, but I can see how it could have appeared to mean something else, so I have replaced it. Thanks for commenting and come back soon.

      cr