"What
is wrong with me? Why can't I lose weight permanently?"
If you've
ever asked yourself this question, then you've probably also wondered:
"I
have a great tenacity to stick at other things in my life, how come I am so
weak willed when it comes to losing weight?" "How
come other people lose weight but I still struggle?"
Well,
after years of being in this same dilemma I figured out that it's NOT that we
are weak willed, or lack the tenacity to lose weight permanently. The fact of
the matter is, we have been using a mindset of thought processes and a range of
habits that work against our motivation, rather than with it.
What you
have probably not noticed is the 98% of people, like you, put all the weight
back on and more within 2-3 years! Like me, you may well have believed the
propaganda that you can be a perfect size 10 if only you try harder, which has
meant you have spent years ignoring reality and believing you’re ‘Not Good
Enough’!
Motivation
for change and to lose weight permanently is NOT about working harder it is
about working smarter. The key is NOT to keep repeating the same patterns of
habits and thoughts that are working against you. It is also about being
realistic regarding what you can change. Foremost, it is about loving yourself
now NOT at some distant time when you are a desired weight.
To effect
any significant motivation and long-lasting change to your shape, size or
weight you firstly need to accept 3 things...
1. The
reality of 'What is'
2. That
fear holds us back from achieving the changes we desire
3. Change
is an ongoing process NOT A DESTINATION!
By the
reality of 'What is', I mean accepting your body shape and the assets you were
genetically born to with. That includes, for many people, accepting that the
body changes shape with age. It is also about accepting that you are unique,
beautiful and different. So comparing yourself to others is a complete waste of
time and energy!
Accepting
'What is' and finding ways of learning to love all of you as you are now, is
essential to sustained weight loss motivation. Of course that doesn't mean not
having a clear vision or goal of the changes you want to create, just that they
need to be realistic and achievable.
For some,
but not all, there are fears holding you back! Lots of them may stop you
achieving the permanent weight loss you so long for. The problem is that some
fears are so well hidden that you probably do not even know they are there! In
the book 'FAT, Exploding the Myths' by Lisa Colles, Dawn French describes her
fear of "not knowing who she was or how to use her body" when she
reduced in size to a 10-12 for her wedding day. Our fears come in all shapes
and sizes and for some, acknowledging them is an essential part of the change
process.
One of
the biggest barriers to change, however, is seeing it as an enforced period of
stress, struggle, scarcity or conflict that eventually has an end. Learning to
love change in all its facets and seeing the learning in each day is so
important. Accepting the joys of new experiences and being excited in the
knowledge that it is not the destination that is important but the ongoing
journey. These are the keys to weight loss success and sustained motivation.
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