Pray It Off Meeting 5/27/10 The Mind Game of Losing Weight and Getting Fit WITH VIDEO

The Mind Game Of Losing Weight and Getting Fit*




“How fit we are and how successful our latest attempt at losing weight is, has more to do with how we feel about this matter than it does with genetics and high or low metabolisms. Sure, they play a role, but any of those factors can be overcame with the right attitude and determination. Developing that right attitude of course can be the hard part. Let’s take a closer look.

Psychology has a lot more to do with how much we weigh that most people realize. Our subconscious plays a role in how much we eat, whether and how much we exercise, and what weight range we deem as acceptable for ourselves. When it is discovered that someone is anorexic or bulimic, it’s apparent that the problem goes deeper than eating habits. But what many of us fail to see is that the same thing applies to those who are overweight.

There are infinitely many reasons that a person may feel compelled to overeat. Here are a few general ones.

* Some people overeat as a way of making up for something that is missing in their lives. This need often goes back to childhood, but it can also spring from more recent events. For instance, someone who has recently divorced might overeat to compensate for the lack of a partner.

* Those who have been or are currently being abused may overeat. In the case of sexual abuse, the victim might overeat to make herself less attractive as a means of preventing future abuse. Victims of other types of abuse may overeat in an effort to comfort themselves. These patterns often continue long after the abuse is over.

* Overeating is sometimes a reaction to stress. Instead of facing the sources of stress head-on, some people eat to take their minds off of them. This only works temporarily, however, and when the stressor resurfaces, the cycle continues.

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body

Those who are overweight are rarely that way because they want to be. They often try diets, medications, exercise programs and alternative treatments, only to fail. But if they were to work on the underlying issues before attempting to change what’s on the outside, they would have a better chance of success.

The psychological problems behind obesity have a way of setting us up to fail at losing weight. They are often accompanied by low self-esteem, which is notorious for thwarting weight-loss efforts. Even if we give it our best shot, a lasting reduction in weight does not happen overnight.

However, low self-esteem can lead us to believe that lack of quick results means that we’re incapable of succeeding, so we give up too quickly. And even if we do manage to lose the extra weight, if the psychological problems are still there when we go off the diet, the weight will reappear.

Getting treatment for psychological problems is essential if we want to stop destructive behaviors such as overeating. By improving our state of mind, we give ourselves the foundation we need to make lifestyle changes that will help us achieve a healthier weight.”


PHOTO: http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/bcks/Connected/images/brain.jpg
*http://www.walkingofftheweight.com/the-mind-game-of-losing-weight-and-getting-fit/