Weight Control

Here is where we have a problem.

Weight Control and weight loss have probably failed more times, to more people because of this obstacle. It is the real 'fight' in losing weight (remember I talked about Oprah before? This is why she has had tough battles with weight control). What is it?

WE EAT (and overeat) FOR EMOTIONAL REASONS -

'What do I mean?':

Well, if food was something mechanical like say, brushing your teeth, you'd just do it 3 times a day as a maintenance behavior (giving your body what it needs to function) and that would be it! Nobody has a problem with 'over-brushing'. They don't go to support groups and say "Hi, my name is Sue and I have a tooth-brushing problem" . Get it? Food does have a mechanical/maintenance component but it also has a powerful EMOTIONAL component and that influences us HIGHLY.

Why do people (you/I) overeat or eat badly? Well, a variety of reasons which may include:

Anxiety - It really does help to calm you down and help deal with some of the stresses you have in your life. Just think about how you feel after a large meal --> SLEEPY.

Depression - What do many women do when they are down? Curl up in front of the TV with a big box of cookies or a whole tub of Haagen-Daas! Eating makes us feel better by giving us pleasure.

Feeling Unfullfilled - Many people are not happy and unsatisfied with thier lives as a whole. Sometimes the only thing to look forward to is getting home from work and having a tasty meal like pizza and apple pie.
**For those who can feel the same way eating grasses and soy...you need help

Low Self-Esteem - I'd say that about 85% of us have this to some degree and we have many ways to cope. Food can be one of them.

There are many more emotional reasons but you MUST know that these are VERY VERY POWERFUL and cannot be beaten by willpower, discipline or a new super-diet. You waste your money, time and effort buy buying new diet books because the causes are emotional & emotions ALWAYS win long-term so... Remember:

In order for a Diet to work in the LONG-RUN it MUST satisfy 2 criteria:

1- It must be a diet that is healthy for you.

2- It must be a diet that can be reasonably sustained for the REST of YOUR LIFE! Don't forget this!