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The Psychology Of Weight Loss
Steven Hall
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.
Steve Hall is the owner of http://www.your-official-guide.com,
your one-stop location for getting the information you are
looking for on a wide ranging and ever-growing list of subjects.
Article Source:
www.iSnare.com
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