With Thanksgiving just passing and more holidays quickly approaching, food and beverages have definitely been at the forefront of everyone's minds. I'll admit, I'm feeling a little guilty this weekend about everything I've consumed over the past few days. Despite that, I will never, ever, diet again.

I've been on both sides of the spectrum. I've dieted and exercised to the extreme, reaching a weight that I was proud of when I looked in the mirror, but that ruined my social life and family time. I developed fears of certain foods. I found myself dreading family events that I knew would be based around fattening foods and alcoholic beverages. This "healthy" lifestyle was detrimental to my mental health, and took a long time to break away from.

I've also been to the other extreme. I've said "treat yourself" to myself far too often, indulged heavily and daily, and told myself I didn't need to exercise. I gained weight that made me hate my appearance and every article of clothing I owned. I was moody, sluggish, and had no desire to do much of anything.

I've found that life is just one big balancing act. We take the good with the bad, the healthy with the indulgences, the energetic days with the relaxed ones.

I finally have a healthy relationship with food. I am not afraid to go out with my friends for dinner and drinks, but I also respect my body enough to treat it well with frequent exercise and positive food choices. I might not have the ideal body that young women my age dream of, but I am comfortable and confident. I am happy, balanced, and loving my life more than I have in quite some time.

Food and beverages will always be a part of life. "Dieting" works for the short term, but if you cannot picture yourself still eating the way you do now in a year, what you are practicing will not work in the long run. It is crucial to find a balance, and your happiness, along with your health, will follow.

I've decided that having the tiniest waistline possible is not worth depriving myself of other things that life has to offer. While I respect my body, and want to treat it well, I will never again restrict myself to a diet. The only thing a "diet" shrinks is mental health, self confidence, and happiness.