♠ Posted by Unknown in Weight Loss Tips at 3:26 ص
You see the razor-thin models gracing the covers of magazines…you watch
actors and actresses on the big screen who seem to never gain a pound. And you wonder: How do I differ from them? You may be surprised to learn that a number
of famous people at one time had difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. But they were able to conquer their problem,
thanks to a new-and-improved, healthy view of eating.
You may not realize it, but there is a certain psychology at work in
successful weight loss. It is no
surprise, then, that the magazine Psychology Today has explored the issue
in-depth. In October of 2004, the
magazine posted an article on its website detailing the experiences of Diane
Berry, a nurse practitioner who studied women who had shed at least 15 pounds
and had maintained their weight loss for an average of seven years.
The women shared some important things in common. For instance, they all achieved their weight
loss through either Weight Watchers or TOPS, which meant that they had a firm
support network as they tried to maintain their weight. The group meetings were highly important,
because they learned to recognize that they were certainly not alone in their
struggles with weight. The women were
also quite unusual because up to 90 percent of individuals who have lost weight
end up putting it back on within five years.
Another common trait of these women is that they appeared to undergo a
profound mood shift as they made the transition from fat to thin. From all indications, they appeared to be
depressed when they were heavy but, as they attempted to lose weight, their
mood brightened.
For these women, healthy eating became a habit—a habit they refused to
break. They themselves recognized the
tremendous role that psychology plays in weight loss. They refused to give in to negative feelings
of frustration and denial and chose a positive path instead. The women also made it a point to weigh
themselves regularly so that they could chart their progress.
And they recognized that maintaining weight loss would be a lifetime
struggle. They knew that they could not
attempt a weight loss program then put it back on the shelf. They had to learn new eating patterns that
they could continue week in and week out.
In some cases, they likened their struggle to that of an alcoholic. In other words, they recognized the gravity
of their problem and took steps to correct the situation.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these women’s experiences was the
fact that their weight loss actually came in spurts. At times, they regained their weight, but
they did not let that deter them from their final goal. They simply viewed their setbacks as
challenges that they needed to overcome.
This may be the key psychological trait that separates successful
dieters from unsuccessful ones—perseverance.
In essence, these women were able to change their personalities in a
positive way in order to achieve their long-term weight loss goals.
Another interesting aspect of this study was that it showed that the
women who had undergone weight loss transformation were genuinely happy. This shows the tremendous psychological
impact that weight loss can have on an individual. Once an individual is free from the burden of
extra weight, he or she is better able to meet the challenges of life head-on. The dieter benefits from positive
reinforcement, as relatives, friends, and co-workers congratulate him or her
for the weight loss. In this way, losing
weight can be quite a life-affirming experience and can lead to a more
optimistic outlook on life.
It must be noted here that the psychology of weight loss is a
complicated matter. There is no single
ingredient that can turn a fat person into a thin one. However, recognizing that there is a
psychological component to successful weight loss may, in fact, be half the
battle. Once an individual recognizes
that he or she is engaged in a psychological fight, he or she is better able to
do battle. By retraining oneself to seek
healthy approaches to diet, one can, in effect, mold oneself into a new
individual—one that no longer lives to eat, but simply eats to live.
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