Why You Gain Weight (long but sooo good)

IsMollyReallyHungry

I posted this for anyone trying to lose weight. Yes it was written for WLS patients, but it is truly beneficial for anyone struggling with weight gain or anyone in maintenance. This is a little lenghty but so worth a read.

Why You Gain Weight
by Katie Jay, MSW, Certified Wellness Coach
Director, National Association for Weight Loss Surgery
www.nawls.com

When you see the scale go up a few pounds it's easy to panic.
A few pounds emotionally feels like a ton. You wonder if you
will ever be able to get off that extra weight, as if you were
David facing the Giant. You feel guilty for how you've eaten or
for skipping exercise.

Then, almost without a thought, you surrender. You tell yourself
you messed up, so you might as well give up. Let the Giant win.

That's why you gain weight

You see, it's not the few pounds that is the problem. They can
be lost. It's the giving up -- the "all or nothing" thinking
-- that is the real problem.

Try being honest with yourself

It's time to get out your sling shot and poke holes in this
lie you are telling yourself -- the lie about not being able
to take off a few pounds.

Your problem isn't the few pounds you've gained; it's not your
body. Your problem is in your mind. You start playing an old
tape in your head and believe it, even when it's not true.

You tell yourself you can't say no to chocolate. You are too
tired to exercise. You don't have time to cook. All lies.
Really.

Eliminate "I can't" from your vocabulary

As surely as David knocked down that big menace, you CAN
knock off a few pounds -- if you will stop telling yourself
you can't do it.

Act on the facts, not on your feelings

You CAN take action to drop the pounds no matter what you're
feeling. This new way of being will take some practice, but
you will get better at it over time.

Here's how to act on facts, not feelings, to defeat the Giant:

1) Take aim. Figure out what your target weight is and make a
little chart to track your progress -- and then use it! (If
you're like me, you'll be tempted to skip this step, but that's
the old tape. This time, don't skip what seems silly or useless
-- that's a lie.)

2) Use your tool. David had a great sling shot to use and a nice
sized stone, I bet. You have your tool, too -- your weight loss
surgery.

Follow all of your surgeon's guidelines (yes, dig out the papers
you were given at orientation or call and ask for a new set to
be mailed to you -- and then read them every day for a week).

And at meal time, try chewing forever, and not drinking with
meals, and eating dense proteins to fill you up.

3) Feel your feelings and do it anyway. David must have been
terrified, but he didn't let that stop him. He bravely walked
out into the open and faced the Giant.

You can face your powerful foe, too -- your negativity. Feel
your feelings: anger, fear, sadness, deprivation, defiance,
shame, disappointment, whatever they are ... and then do the
next right thing anyway. Don't let your feelings dictate your
actions today.

Be like David

Like the people David was defending, your life is depending on
you. Your hopes and dreams need you to protect them. Your
health and productivity need you to stand up for them.

When David stepped out, he had no guarantee he would win. He
took a leap of faith and acted. He felt the fear and did it
anyway.

It's your turn.

*****************************************************************

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National Association for Weight Loss Surgery.
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National Association for Weight Loss Surgery, 609A Piner Road, #319, Wilmington, NC 28409

PJilly

Love this: "Feel your feelings and do it anyway."

cuppycake22

Bumping for reading later

sey719

"Your problem is in your mind. You start playing an old tape in your head and believe it, even when it's not true."

So true...and the truth hurts.

SparkleShine

Thank you for posting. This came at just the right time. I've had a bad few days! Thanks for the reminder/reality check!!!

missouri_rain

Mollie,
Thank you for another great post, I love coming here and reading what you've posted, I know it will always be insightful.
xoxo

hollyk57

So true. Great post - thank you!

Behavior_Modification

Thanks for the great reminder Molly, when I don't FEEL like exercising I need to do it anyhow.

obifatkanobi

This is a great post; not only for eating healthy and exercise, for life. The key is, don't start out to change your whole life at once, begin with some little things and let your self control grow from there. For example, your wanting to enjoy a chunk of yummy cake, take a half a piece instead. Or, get the small ice cream cone instead of the large. Your tired, it's been a long, hot day, you don't feel like taking that five mile walk. Instead of passing, focus and tell yourself you'll go for one or two miles instead. When you reach this, think, do you still feel tired and ready to stop, or do you feel like ushing on. Chances are, you will push on. I've noticed that's it's not the long haul that's the problem, it's getting started!

Ask yourself, "Who's in control?"

Is it you, or is it your feelings? Thinking is the key. Emotions should always be subjective to what you think. Or, as my signature states, once you conquer yourself (your feelings/emotions) you can do anything...

JustBeckyV

Awesome message!! TY for posting this!

tracy98gac

Thanks so much for sharing! This really helped me to restart the battle with my weight loss "Giant".

melodyg

Love it... and after a discouraging week, I needed it. It seems to be a constant battle some days to remind myself that the only way things will get better is just to keep going. I love the "feel your feelings and then take the next step part too". I think there are too many in my life who try to convince me I shouldn't feel the way I feel instead of telling me it is okay to feel the way I do as long as I keep taking better actions... and it always helps to hear/read that it is okay to feel whatever I am feeling.

IsMollyReallyHungry

Love it... and after a discouraging week, I needed it. It seems to be a constant battle some days to remind myself that the only way things will get better is just to keep going. I love the "feel your feelings and then take the next step part too". I think there are too many in my life who try to convince me I shouldn't feel the way I feel instead of telling me it is okay to feel the way I do as long as I keep taking better actions... and it always helps to hear/read that it is okay to feel whatever I am feeling.

It took me a while to learn this also. When I need to cry just cry and get it out and don't use food to comfort myself. Crying is very therputic and feeling the pain is OK. Just learning to feel the pain is OK. We were not taugh it is OK to grieve or to feel pain. Keep up the good work!