The Super Bowl is hitting the Las Vegas Strip, and I will not be leaving my house. For the bargain price of just over $55,000, you could join thousands of your friends and wait to see if Taylor makes it to the game. It’s going to be interesting.
As you may expect, Vegas’s been a bit nutty this week, with over 330,000 visitors projected to be here for the big game. Allegiant Stadium, also known as the “death star” or, to locals, the “Roomba,” will host Super Bowl 58 this weekend. The parties and shenanigans have already begun. For example, a local activist and influencer thought it would be fun to illegally climb outside Vegas’ newest billion-dollar attraction - The Sphere. Hopefully, all the visitors will have a fun and safe time experiencing Las Vegas’ first time hosting the Super Bowl.
However you feel about the game, fans, Elvis impersonators, stars, or commercials, I hope you have a great day watching the game, Usher’s concert, or none of it! No matter what you’re doing Sunday, I’ve covered your snack sitch covered.
Now for Menus
I told you that I have those big game snacks on lock. Like Oliver says in Only Murders in the Building, “Ah! - Is there nothing dips can’t do?” We’ve got bean dip, ranch dip, tostadas, and more. Later in the week, you’ll find slow-cooker BBQ chicken, beef stirfry, and a special Valentine’s Day meal. Enjoy!
Get your February Week 3 Menu HERE
I’ll be doing a Q & A post for paid subscribers this month. If you’re not a paid subscriber, click on the subscribe button to learn more about the benefits you get for $8/month. And you support my work, which I really appreciate. I’m focusing this Q & A on all things fasting - just in time for diet culture’s second favorite time of year, Lent. So feel free to leave a question in the comments!
Digital Snacks
This week’s digital snack is a post I shared on Instagram the other day. Diet culture LOVES before and after shots…
I get it. You want to share your journey, be validated, and motivate people. But let me ask you this - what if you did all “healthy” things and you didn’t shrink? Would you still be worthy? The answer is YES, and nobody needs to see your after picture.
You do not need the world’s claps and praise for dieting. In fact, it’s likely harming you and those who view those pictures. Sure, it may be motivating by way of shaming someone into thinking they need to take up less space at any cost (dieting, extreme exercise, eating disorders, weight loss drugs). It’s particularly harmful when health professionals or your favorite influencer shares pictures like this (even the Christian ones).
Before and after pictures of bodies ONLY serve diet culture, even if you praise God for your weight loss/“health” journey. You can engage in health-promoting behaviors that may or may never change your body’s look or weight, and that’s okay. You were worthy BEFORE; you are worthy AFTER.
That photo may feel like a celebration for you or the person you see in the photo. But, let me assure you, it is only a victory for diet culture. What happens when your body inevitably changes again, either through more weight-cycling, disease states, or normal aging processes? The shame spiral begins again, like with every bout of weight loss dieting.
Let’s consider the harm in sharing these photos. In twenty-plus years of being an eating disorder dietitian, I’ve only seen harm (& a fair amount of temporary self-righteousness) in sharing them. Shrinking for the sake of shrinking rarely brings people to health. It just digs you deeper into diet culture.
If you want to make changes to improve your health, go for it. Just know that health doesn’t have a look and isn’t synonymous with weight loss. True well-being is an inside job. Save those before and after shots for your bathroom renovation.
Have a safe and tasty weekend,
Leslie