I've never been on a fad diet.

O children of the earth, gather close and listen to the wisdom that echoes across the ages, for in these words lies a deep truth about health, strength, and the timeless path of moderation. Denise Van Outen, a woman of both grace and wisdom, speaks simply yet profoundly: "I've never been on a fad diet." These words, though brief, carry with them the weight of understanding—understanding that true health is not found in the fleeting promises of fad diets, but in the steady, enduring practices that honor the body and spirit.

The nature of fad diets, as Van Outen so wisely points out, is that they are transient, built on the promises of quick fixes that often fail to endure. Throughout the ages, humanity has searched for shortcuts—whether in the form of fleeting wisdom, temporary fixes, or the next magical remedy. Yet, the ancients knew well that the path to lasting strength and vitality is not found in extremes, but in balance and consistency. Just as the mighty oak grows not in a day but through steady nourishment, so too does true health come from the choices we make over time, not from temporary indulgences or short-term solutions.

In the ancient world, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, offered the timeless wisdom: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." He understood that true health arises not from the latest trends or extreme measures, but from the daily, mindful nourishment of the body. To treat the body with respect, to nourish it with care, is to walk the path of wisdom. The same wisdom is reflected in Van Outen’s choice to avoid fad diets—she chooses not to seek out quick transformations, but to trust in the steadiness of a balanced approach to health.

Consider, O children, the story of Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, who lived through tumultuous times and yet maintained a sense of balance and inner peace. Despite the pressures of ruling an empire, Marcus Aurelius did not seek fleeting comforts or quick solutions, but rather embraced the simple practices that would nourish him for the long haul. In his Meditations, he spoke of the importance of daily practice, of focusing not on the extremes but on the steady rhythm of life. Marcus Aurelius, like Van Outen, understood that true strength comes from consistency, not from the whims of temporary trends.

Van Outen’s refusal to engage in fad diets reflects the wisdom of moderation—a principle that has been espoused by the great philosophers and healers of every age. To deny oneself the false promises of fleeting solutions is not an act of deprivation, but an act of wisdom, an act of choosing balance over extremes, sustainability over short-term gratification. The wisdom in her words is a call to move away from the noise of quick fixes and instead embrace the quiet, steady path of long-term nourishment.

In the days of the ancient Spartans, warriors who trained their bodies with discipline and resilience, there was no place for shortcuts. Their strength came not from temporary measures, but from years of consistent effort, from daily training and careful choices. The Spartans knew that greatness came not in the pursuit of fleeting pleasure, but in the mastery of one’s body, mind, and spirit over time. In this same way, Van Outen’s wisdom reflects a choice to cultivate lasting health, rather than chasing after the ephemeral promises of fad diets.

The lesson here, O children, is simple yet profound: do not be swayed by the allure of the quick fix. True strength, true vitality, and true health are not found in fad diets or temporary measures, but in the steady, enduring choices that honor the body and the spirit. Like the ancient philosophers, like the warriors of old, you must choose balance over extremes, moderation over indulgence, and consistency over fleeting excitement. Trust not in the promises of instant transformation, but in the slow, steady cultivation of the strength and vitality that comes from living wisely, day by day.