The Group Experience
For the vast majority of people, diets simply do not work over the long term. Beyond Dieting® explores this issue through weekly group discussions. This is NOT a diet. The groups do not focus on weight reduction or dieting. If you are a person who has struggled with dieting and weight control, Beyond Dieting® may help you in making peace with food and the bathroom scale.
Beyond Dieting® offers a 12 week psycho-educational group that focuses on the experience of repeat dieting and resultant weight preoccupation. Increased awareness and discussion will help group members come to terms with their own dieting issues. Healthy lifestyle choices are discussed and encouraged throughout the Beyond Dieting® experience.
Background Information
Rhonda Zabrodski, B.Sc., MSW, RSW is a registered clinical social worker. She completed her Masters in Social Work degree at the University of Calgary in 1996. Her thesis topic "Beyond Dieting" dealt with the increasing preoccupation that women have with issues of self esteem and its relationship to body weight, exercise and food empowerment. She has over 15 years experience as a clinician, teacher and lecturer in weight preoccupation and dieting.
When are the meetings?
New group sessions start every two to three months.
Individual counseling is also available for those who do not wish to be part of the group experience.
This is a NON-DIETING approach. The group does not focus on weight reduction or dieting. It is unlikely that the group will experience any weight loss whatsoever. Participants are asked not to be on any formal weight loss program during the 12 week program. Participants are not weighed.
Following the 12 week program, optional monthly meetings are also available.
The focus of the group involves:
- Diet education: What is actually known about the effects of dieting and obesity? What is "healthy" eating or a "healthy" body? Issues such as the cultural drive for thinness, the diet industry, fatism, the effects of obesity and dieting are discussed.
- Self esteem and body image: The effects of dieting on body image and self esteem are explored. It is hoped that members will experience increased self esteem through the group process.
- Relationship with food: There is more to eating than simple hunger. Food has a variety of meanings and value for all of us. It is important to develop insights as to how food is used for more than sustenance.
Each group consists of 8 to 12 adult women.. Women who are interested in the group should consider themselves to be "repeat dieters." This would likely be women who have tried at least 3 diets in the past 10 years and have had little or no success with losing weight or keeping weight off, have concerns about their body and weight, and experience difficulties in their relationship with food and eating.
Because weight preoccupation is independent of actual size, there are three distinct groups of Beyond Dieting ® that are "size-based":
- Group A ("normal sized") - This includes women who others consider to be normal weight but consider themselves to be preoccupied about food and/or exercise. They may experience some degree of "disordered eating" (e.g. bingeing, fasting) and have a distorted body image.
- Group B ("mid-ranged") - This includes women who are overweight (BMI over 27, or about 20 pounds over "ideal") and have had repeated diet experiences.
- Group C ("large-sized") - This includes women who would be considered to be about 100 pounds above "normal weight."
While many of the issues that the three groups share may be similar, the cultural, social and physical and psychological experiences of the three groups are different enough to warrant separation.
If there is sufficient interest, specialized groups such as men's or teenager's groups will be offered.
All individuals interested will undergo a pre-screening process prior to the onset of the group.
Who Would Benefit from Beyond Dieting®?
Individuals should consider themselves to be "repeat dieters." They would have tried at least 3 diets in the past 10 years and have had little or no success with losing weight or keeping weight off, have concerns about their body and weight, and experience difficulties in their relationship with food and eating. Beyond Dieting® is not suitable for those individuals who currently have problems with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Please note that "Obesity" and "Compulsive Overeating" are not considered to be eating disorders.
Booking & Meetings
For further information regarding speaking engagements for your organization, individual counseling or the Beyond Dieting Group experience contact:
- Rhonda Zabrodski
- Heritage Hill Professional Building
- 101 - 8180 Macleod Trail SE
- Calgary, Alberta T2H 2B8
- Phone: (403) 271-1311
- Fax: (403) 271-1575
- beyonddieting@hotmail.com
- Website: http://www.beyonddieting.com