What the world calls “weight loss” is a temporary condition based on a diet, not on real life. As I discovered, we pay for temporary weight loss with deprivation, excessive exercise, and, most importantly, we pay with the body’s precious metabolism. Then, we’re forced to give back the “weight loss” when we can’t support the payments anymore.
I call this “renting weight loss.” It’s prevalent in our society, and heartbreaking.
As I lost over 70 lbs. (and sustained that loss for 10 years), I learned a few things. Speaking at my 10th year celebration forced me to think about all my lessons from an overview perspective. It looked like this:
C change the mind
H honor emotions
I intuit the body
L live aligned with values
D discover life purpose
It occurred to me that, being addicted to food, using food in a destructive way, or living in struggle is often like having your inner 4-year-old running your life. What a 4-year-old does is not necessarily healthy or well-informed. They often act purely on emotion and need, with no filter of rational thought creating a realistic picture.
My boss insult me? –> Eat pizza and brownies for dinner.
I feel separated from myself and my values? –> Binge all weekend.
Timothy took my toy!!! –> Throw a tantrum, then get ice cream.
The last example, what every 4-year-old does, is no different a reaction that the earlier ones.
So, as I’ve learned, a lot of positive change in life occurs when we take responsibility and begin to positively parenting ourselves.
No one else will do it.
We have to learn to think for ourselves. Don’t be a sheeple in life! Following the crowd, doing what everyone else is doing will get you what everyone else is getting… more fat. The rate of overweight in our society has grown to over 63% now. That’s the sad reality of where most people are going with their off-and-on again attempts at extreme exercise and heavily restrictive dieting. They are creating more business, stress, overwork, overthinking, discomfort, disease and excess weight.
So, here’s a route that leads to long-term weight loss success:
Change the mind – Yes, it’s flexible and changeable.
Honor emotions – They’re friendlier when you stop fighting them.
Intuit the body – Listen and it will tell you what it needs and when it needs it.
Live aligned with values – Know who you are and what’s important in YOUR life.
Discover life purpose – No addiction can exist alongside something as powerful as your life purpose!
Great post! Very insightful.
Alison 🙂
I agree Pat, childhood emotions will always come up. Every minute of our formative years were filled with fear, sadness, loss, frustration PAIN and much more. For those that think they didn’t experience any of those emotions they are only fooling themselves. Unless an adult helped to soothe those feelings, the immature mind most likely had no idea how to deal with them. More likely an adult said “quit your whining, stop crying or worse. Many times a kid is given a cookie or candy to get them to stop and behave.
As an adult anything can trigger those childhood emotions. What is the solution?
Step One (imo) Remember you are the adult now and YOU can give that child the reassurance it needs. You KNOW as an adult that you are very capable so give your child an imaginary hug, love it up…help your child it will never leave you… it is YOU.
Oh my gosh “light bulb moment” I think I am a sheeple! Anytime I am struggling I start looking for someone or something to get me back on track. Truth is I have to do it myself. I have before and I know I can but it is not always the easy route by any means.
I love how you put into words the tantrum=icecream scenario. WOW!
Pat you would think we would all just know this and get it but you really made me realize many things with this post.
Thank you for sharing your expertise and thoughts. We are all blessed to be able to read them!
XO
Great post! Very insightful.
Alison 🙂