Will Acupuncture Help Me Lose Weight?
No. Straight up NO. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, given our culture’s obsession with smaller bodies. Some acupuncturists will tell you it will help you lose weight. Please, don’t believe them. They are cogs in the wheel of diet culture. It is not their fault, they are not evil. We have all be brought up in a culture where fat equals pathology. As healthcare professionals, we are trained to believe that if we can address most pathology, we will be able to initiate weight loss.
And, there is a world outside of diet culture where fat is not a pathology. In menopause, it is protective. Elderly folks fare better with some fat on their bodies. Fat on our bodies helps us to hold on to lean muscle loss. Also, there is a world where mental health is part of the picture.
YOU CANNOT TELL A THING ABOUT A PERSON’S HEALTH BY LOOKING AT THEM. Read that again.
Diet culture wants us to believe that staying small makes us more attractive. Diet culture also wants us to believe that attractiveness is all that matters. Let’s connect those dots. Smaller is more attractive…do you want to be powerful or do you want to be attractive to a society that values thinness over everything else?
What do you want to do with your body? My body wants to have ease with sleep, digestion, lifting weights, biking, standing at concerts, and feeling well as I stand for my job. I also tread lightly here because not every body can do these things. My point is, do you want to be attractive above all else in your life? And if so, what happens as you age? Our culture loves youth as much as it does thinness. Ultimately we have little control over these factors.
Let’s be powerful, compassionate, and kind to ourselves. Imagine how much time you could have if some of the chatter about attractiveness and thinness died down. I know I got so much peace and quiet from reprioritizing my values and increasing my body acceptance.
Please email robin@bodypositiveacupuncture.com if you have any questions about acupuncture treatment in Baltimore. If you are interested, a journey of Intuitive Eating will help you find your exit ramp from diet culture and improve your relationship with food and your body. If you have questions about Intuitive Eating, please message Robin Harris through email at robin@bodypositiveacupuncture.com or submit through the contact page. Intuitive Eating counseling can take place anywhere because it is virtual!