The Psychology Of Weight Loss

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Article Title: The Psychology Of Weight Loss

Author: Hall

Word Count: 722

Article URL:

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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.

About The Author: 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.

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