They eat pizza. They eat pasta. They eat gelato. They enjoy fresh bread. Even pastries for breakfast. Yet obesity doesn’t seem to be a national epidemic in Italy.
I’m writing this from a small piazza in Italy. I’ve been watching people of all ages walk with purpose, ease, and joy to the public market. They pick up fresh fruit and vegetables, maybe a chunk of parmigiano or a crusty loaf of bread. They chat with the vendor. They carry just what they need for the day. Then they go home, sit down, and enjoy their food.
This creates a striking contrast to what I see back home. There, life is filled with constant rush, hyper-restriction, and the guilt we tie to eating anything “bad.”
However, here’s what I’ve remembered on this trip:
It’s not the carbs that are the problem.
It’s the relationship we have with food… and even more, the relationship we have with ourselves.
What if food could just be food again?
Food isn’t meant to be a crutch.
It’s not meant to be a comfort.
It doesn’t have to be something you need to “earn.”
And it should never be something to regret.
When we approach food with love, presence, and pleasure, everything changes.
This is how we stop dieting for good.
A few things I’ve noticed here in Italy:
- People walk everywhere, without making it “exercise.”
- They don’t demonize carbs. They enjoy them, often alongside fresh veggies and olive oil.
- Meals include smaller portions, but with more satisfaction.
- They have fruit after meals — a sweet finish without processed sugar bombs.
- They sit down to eat and connect, with each other and with the moment.
It’s not a diet.
It’s a way of living that honors the body, the senses, and the joy of being alive.
A personal note from me:
Every time I come to Italy, I feel better in my body.
I even end up shedding a couple of pounds, not from restriction, but from walking, happiness, and la dolce vita.
The food sensitivities I sometimes experience back home? They seem to disappear.
There’s a different rhythm here. A different focus.
Not that we all have to move to Italy or eat pasta every day. But this experience shows something powerful:
You don’t have to be keto or carnivore to maintain a healthy weight.
You can eat whatever you want — in moderation, with smaller portions, and with love in your heart.
So why does this matter for you?
Because how you treat yourself — how you move, how you nourish, how you pause — has everything to do with the shape of your life and body.
And I believe weight doesn’t release when we punish ourselves.
It releases when we return to ourselves, with compassion, curiosity, and care.
This isn’t about another set of food rules. Instead, it’s about helping you stop dieting for good.
Ask yourself:
- Am I eating with presence, or to escape?
- Am I moving my body in ways I enjoy, or to “burn off” guilt?
- Am I rushing through my days, or letting myself feel the beauty of being alive?
- What would change if I treated myself like someone I loved?
This isn’t about becoming Italian.
It’s about becoming aligned — with your body, your life, and what truly nourishes you.
Ready for something different?
If you’re tired of rules, restriction, and guilt… and you’re craving a more loving, sustainable path to health:
Want to explore a more peaceful way of being with food? [Get on the Lighter You waitlist] – a program designed to help you release weight by returning to you.
If this post resonates, forward it to someone who’s tired of diet rules and ready to love life again.
Or simply comment below — what’s one thing you can do this week to bring more joy and presence to the way you eat or move?
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