BEYOND THE FEED

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Feed, Piedmont University golfer Keegan Goins discusses how she navigated the carnivore diet. We talked about how dieting does not have to be by-the-book and how changes are vital in sustainability.

We discussed that most people following diets tend to quit because of their restrictive nature. Goins’ choice to follow the carnivore diet came from a family-friends success with it. However, Goins said that she just wanted to feel better, and looking better was simply an added plus.

 I found that Goins took a different path when following the carnivore diet. She shared that when she realized she was not feeling her best, she knew something had to change. The need for change did not come without fear of judgement, though.  

“I knew I needed to make a change, but I didn’t want to be judged for not sticking to the strict carnivore diet,” said Goins. “I needed to change for my body, but mentally I was telling myself, ‘Don’t change,’ because I didn’t want people to say, ‘She can’t do it.’”

It is interesting how even when going into the diet with the mindset that she wanted to feel better, she still found herself being held back by what other people think about her and her process. Goins’ fear of judgement shows that dieting is not only an initiative at wellness but also a testament to others.

What makes Goins story so powerful is that she did make those changes. Even when she faced the inner conflict of other people’s perceptions, she knew what would ultimately make her feel better.

The most intriguing part of this is determining where her perseverance came from. Was it her initial goal of feeling better? Was it confidence in her own choices? There is a lot to be said about the ability to accept what other people might see as “failure” when making the choice to stray from something you have openly committed to. Goins not only improved herself physically, but she also stood up to the mental barriers that dieting often creates.

What difference do you think intention has when it comes to dieting?