A common mistake when starting a fat loss diet is to ignore the emotional element. If you are really ready to shed weight, you can drastically boost your chance of success by addressing some typical but dangerous emotional stumbling blocks. In this write-up I’ll determine and provide remedies to the best six emotional obstacles to weight loss.
Block #1: Your commitment level
Are you truly ready to do what it takes to lose fat\your excess weight? If not, it is better to wait till the timing is right than to sabotage your efforts. Be truthful regarding the timing in your life. Some red flags consist of times of job transition, divorce or break ups, financial pressure, the recent death of a loved one, or any of the other recognized leading stressful life events.
Solution: Allow yourself 3-12 months after you’ve gone through a stressful event to begin your plan. Be kind to yourself and set a goal to begin your program when you’ll have more energy and focus. After all, the way you treat yourself ultimately shows up on the scale.
Block #2: You experience emotionally unsafe
If you have any unresolved emotional or physical pain, you may subconsciously retain or regain any weight you’ve lost. The reason behind this is that excess weight can serve as a physical barrier to others and ultimately help you to feel protected. Victims of violent crimes and abuse often carry excess weight.
Solution: Seek support from a therapist or other qualified professional. There are many alternative therapies today that can accomplish a great deal of healing over a fairly short period of time.
Block #3: Lack of assistance from a spouse or partner
It’s possible that your significant other is your “partner in crime” when it comes to eating, and because you enjoy your dining or snacking rituals together, he/she may not support your efforts completely, even though he/she wants you to be healthy.
Solution: Resolve any potential conflicts before you begin your diet, or at least discuss your goals and devise a simple strategy that meets both of your needs.
Block #4: Spouse and children or community traditions
Sweets and treats at family gatherings may equate to love, but they also contribute to your love handles. The same is true with your larger community, such as with friends, co-workers and social gatherings.
Solution: Be loving with others, while being firm about your goals. Sometimes it’s easiest to point to a medical concern you have around weight, when all other attempts to engage friends and family fail. Tell them that you know they love you and that you appreciate their support in your effort to be healthier.
Block #5: Feeling bored or stuck as part of your life
Does your job allow you to express your life’s passions? Most of us have worked in jobs that either bored us or stressed us out. In theses cases we may use coffee, doughnuts, cookies, and other treats as rewards or distractions. Or perhaps you enjoy your work, and your eating habits reflect this. However, you may feel stuck in a personal rut, so you snack at night. In either case if your weight is suffering, you’ll want to look at ways to change that area of your life and adopt new, healthy habits that support this change .
Solution: First, identify the area or areas in your life that contribute to your boredom or dissatisfaction. If you’re eating as a way to appease yourself at work, perhaps it’s time to take a look at your career or your job. Once you’ve identified areas for change, take a step toward a new path that will better serve your needs and passions. Just one step can help inspire you, so you’re then able to form better eating habits.
Block #6. Hidden Practical Economic Concerns
If you can’t see yourself spending $3,000 on a whole new wardrobe that’s 3 sizes smaller, this issue could get in the way of any weight loss attempt. Important, practical issues like this can stop us from weight loss, and are more deadly if left hidden under the surface. No matter how small the emotional block, it needs to be addressed before you begin a plan.
Solution: Recognize your practical concern and honor your needs by thinking creatively. You could scope out quality consignment shops, barter for tailoring services, or clothes swap with friends to get your new wardrobe started. Sometimes a good wardrobe book is the best investment, because it shows you ways to make a great wardrobe from just a dozen items, purchased slowly and honoring a budget.
These are the top emotional blocks to fat loss, but you may also discover a host of others. By taking an inventory like this for yourself you can avoid frustration and failure down the road. As you expand your awareness of emotional stumbling blocks, you’re able to conquer them by using positive and creative solutions.
We recently read about a popular weight loss diet that can help you with the emotional element of dieting. It also includes a realistic program that you can live with for the long-term, and which focuses on nutrient-rich eating. Best of all, when following this plan you don’t need to be perfect, since the newest metabolic research indicates that if you stay focused 90% of the time, you can still lose weight nearly as quickly as if you followed your plan perfectly.
For a complete review of one such metabolic typing plan check out The Diet Solution Program at 4DietReview.com.