I'm glad you are recovering from this lie. I don't believe in diets in any way, shape, or form. My philosophy on all of this is 1) there are no "bad" foods, 2) eat what you crave (which will naturally ensure a balanced diet), but listen to your body when you are full, 3) take plenty of exercise (I've found it is vital for the mind, which I require working at optimum capacity).

Also, 4) how I operate in this respect is nobody's damn business but mine. Not that anyone would dare to offer me unsolicited advice on this subject, but I hate the way it is given to young women constantly - both directly and through media brainwashing. It simply leads to yo-yo weight gain/loss that actually causes far more weight gain in the long run.

Destroy all diets. Burn them with fire. They are nonsense.

Rant over. Great article, and I salute you for writing it. Literally. I just actually saluted.