There are almost as many ways to lose weight as there are people who need to lose weight. One important thing that people need to develop is the correct motivation for losing weight. For people who have fought weight problems all their life and have never lost a significant amount of weight, they must realize that once they do, there will be other problems that will have to be conquered. For most people of weight, the excess weight is a symptom and not the center of their problem.
It's not uncommon for people who have lost significant amounts of weight, and I'm talking over 50 to 100 pounds, to find that their internal view of themselves is one of still being too heavy. This is assuming that the weight loss took them down to what would be considered a normal weight level for their age and height. Some in fact still see themselves as fat.
This is the core of the problem, that being overweight is a symptom of, which is causing so much internal pain. Now the excess weight may have been at the beginning of a skewed view of self, but over the years, this view has replaced the weight as the core problem. Proof of that is the continuing pain and unhappiness that persists after a major weight loss. Self image becomes so damaged that just weight loss alone will not balance out the person. They are physically new, but still the same old damaged person inside.
So where does this leave us? That depends on who us happens to be. If us is the person or persons who is losing the weight, then we need to understand that the cure to our problems must include a mental aspect as well as a physical change. When we start losing weight and changing our bodies, we need to also in some way, start changing our thought patterns.
If us consists of loved ones of the person involved in the weight loss, then we need to understand what needs to happen also. It is our responsibility to help out our friend or family member during this process. So it's a mistake to just sit by and watch and congratulate the person of weight on their weight reduction, but we must also help them to realize that they are becoming a whole new person. And that involves developing a different self image. This is not an easy step, but it is a must if the weight loss is going to be successful and allow a new butterfly to emerge from their long attached cocoon.
I'm not suggesting that anyone act as a psychiatrist, just give moral support, both physically and emotionally. If that is done, the results will amaze you. It's imperative that the person losing the weight, start working on losing the mental weight also. There is not enough thought given to the mental aspects involved in changing one's life when it comes to shedding excess weight.
For anyone who has not gone through this journey, then it is very hard to understand what the other person will face when they reach their weight goal. It's hard to understand why they say the things they do about still being heavy. Hints of self loathing will often rear their ugly head, but to notice it and take it serious is not easy for the non weight losing person.
Bottom line though is the need to develop the best attitude about losing weight. And that starts with the realization that the weight loss is a necessity for better health and extending one's life span. When that is at the center of the weight loss motivation, then many times the physical and mental worlds come together. And when that happens, the results seem to be more stable and satisfying for the person changing their life and for everyone around them.
There is a health and weight loss teleseminar featuring 8-10 health experts that will be broadcast on the Internet in about 8 weeks. The series will be free. It is called 'Connected....Mind, Body and Soul'. The health practitioners come from all over the United States and will cover multiple areas of concern. It should be interesting and inspirational. There will be information that many people will not have ever been exposed to or heard before.
