Does happiness equal weight loss?
MinyMinnie
Posts: 68
So I realized, people who are happy with themselves lose weight better, Like for example, people that say "I'm happy with myself already but would like to a confidence boost," Seem to be able to lose weight better than people who say "I hate the way I look and hate myself as a person." Any living proof of this? It seems the more I am upset with myself, the more I turn to food and the more I don't see progress right away the more I want to eat. Maybe it would seem obvious to some people but I want to hear people's stories. 
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Replies
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Happiness usually lends itself to a general positive attitude. That in turn helps keep one looking at small accomplishments and keeps a person optimistic in achieving goals. Attitude is everything in my opinion.
That said, even the most negative person can lose weight. It is just simple math. What matters is the will an interest, as well as the consistency in doing it. Having a positive attitude, or being happy gives you a edge.0 -
That is true! Do you have a way that kept you motivated to lose weight?Happiness usually lends itself to a general positive attitude. That in turn helps keep one looking at small accomplishments and keeps a person optimistic in achieving goals. Attitude is everything in my opinion.
That said, even the most negative person can lose weight. It is just simple math. What matters is the will an interest, as well as the consistency in doing it. Having a positive attitude, or being happy gives you a edge.0 -
For me I had to separate my self-worth from what I look like in order to progress properly with weight loss and to have a good mindset. I'm not doing it because I expect instant happiness if I lose weight. But it definitely boosts my confidence.
Anyone who really doesn't like themselves at the core will likely be more defeatist and find it harder to reach goals. I'm basing this on my own experiences in getting over some major self-esteem issues.
I know it's easy to say but try not to be so hard on yourself. Weight loss is hard work. Believe me, no one finds this easy. To keep yourself on track, I think you should aim for small goals so that bit by bit you'll gain a little bit of confidence. For a lot of people, focusing too much on the ultimate outcome makes them freeze and find it all so much harder.
This place is great. Sometimes I go read the forums if I have a weight loss setback and need a bit of inspiration.0 -
It can work if you're happy or not, but usually if you're not, you lose the weight, and you are just a skinnier, angrier person, ha! I had put un realistic expectations on myself, thinking that others had put them on me, and ended up binge eating, binge exercising, eating way too few calories etc....thinking that it would lead me to be happy. Well, I'm in a much better place, and it seems as though I'm shredding way better than before. It's easier, enjoyable, and instead of guilt guiding me, it's pleasure. You know that old story about the wind vs. the sun trying to get the jacket off of the dude sitting in the park? The wind tries with force and fails but the sun warms it right off of him. I think it is completely equivalent. Gotta LOVE dat fat away, hahaha, but real talk, works for me, agree with you 100%0
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I'm a happy person, in spite of my weight and health problems. I love my life, I love my accomplishments, and I'm proud of reaching my "mini" goals along the way. I have a long way to go, but as they say, "A jouney of a thousand miles begins with one step." For me, the focus is overall health. The result will be weight loss.0
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I've found it's much, MUCH easier to lose weight when I am feeling happy, content, organized, and in control. When I feel overwhelmed or depressed, I tend to think, "fvck it...I'm going to eat whatever I want and sit around all day." This leads to more bad feelings and hence, the cycle continues.0
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It's the 'dream, believe, achieve' thing. If you're not happy, you don't dare to dream because you don't believe you can achieve it. When you're focused on achieving a dream you believe in, you're happier because you have a purpose.
True for me anyway0 -
Thanks for sharing! I have self-esteem problems and am trying to do the same, being happy as a person. I feel better knowing that it helps to be happy, I really needed to see the proof.For me I had to separate my self-worth from what I look like in order to progress properly with weight loss and to have a good mindset. I'm not doing it because I expect instant happiness if I lose weight. But it definitely boosts my confidence.
Anyone who really doesn't like themselves at the core will likely be more defeatist and find it harder to reach goals. I'm basing this on my own experiences in getting over some major self-esteem issues.
I know it's easy to say but try not to be so hard on yourself. Weight loss is hard work. Believe me, no one finds this easy. To keep yourself on track, I think you should aim for small goals so that bit by bit you'll gain a little bit of confidence. For a lot of people, focusing too much on the ultimate outcome makes them freeze and find it all so much harder.
This place is great. Sometimes I go read the forums if I have a weight loss setback and need a bit of inspiration.0 -
That's what's happening to me now! i feel so pressured and I binge eat, binge exercise, and eat too little, ect. I feel so much better. I just get really bad anxiety thinking I might not lose weight even if I tried really hard. I'm scared of the failure. The anxiety gets really bad, that's where all the binge eating comes from. I love the analogy. Thank you!It can work if you're happy or not, but usually if you're not, you lose the weight, and you are just a skinnier, angrier person, ha! I had put un realistic expectations on myself, thinking that others had put them on me, and ended up binge eating, binge exercising, eating way too few calories etc....thinking that it would lead me to be happy. Well, I'm in a much better place, and it seems as though I'm shredding way better than before. It's easier, enjoyable, and instead of guilt guiding me, it's pleasure. You know that old story about the wind vs. the sun trying to get the jacket off of the dude sitting in the park? The wind tries with force and fails but the sun warms it right off of him. I think it is completely equivalent. Gotta LOVE dat fat away, hahaha, but real talk, works for me, agree with you 100% 0 -
When I think about it, when I feel happy exercising isn't that much of a problem, but when I'm sad I tend to think "No, I'm going to eat my troubles away. I don't want to do anything else." Knowing that happiness helped you lose weight gives me hope!I've found it's much, MUCH easier to lose weight when I am feeling happy, content, organized, and in control. When I feel overwhelmed or depressed, I tend to think, "fvck it...I'm going to eat whatever I want and sit around all day." This leads to more bad feelings and hence, the cycle continues.0 -
So true!It's the 'dream, believe, achieve' thing. If you're not happy, you don't dare to dream because you don't believe you can achieve it. When you're focused on achieving a dream you believe in, you're happier because you have a purpose.
True for me anyway
Thank you!0 -
I actually told myself that too "My goal is being healthier." problem is I still had low self esteem while I said this.I'm a happy person, in spite of my weight and health problems. I love my life, I love my accomplishments, and I'm proud of reaching my "mini" goals along the way. I have a long way to go, but as they say, "A jouney of a thousand miles begins with one step." For me, the focus is overall health. The result will be weight loss.0 -
Aw, dont be so hard on yourself!! Your a pretty girl and you sound really sweet. Everybody gets off track once in awhile, you cant beat yourself up over it. I found for me it was easier for me to loose weight when i wasn't thinking about it so much and realized theres things that are a lot more important and precious in life than how much i weigh. I would plan out what i was going to eat for the day earlier in the day, and then just do other things the rest of the day that i had to do and not think about it so much until it was time for lunch/dinner. Don't worry you sound like a smart girl, i think everything will work out just fine for you take care and God bless! 0
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I think that coming at weight loss from a position of "I love myself and my body and I want to treat it well" rather than "I hate my body and wish it would change" makes a huge difference in terms of motivation. If you're taking care of yourself because you love yourself, an occasional indulgence is just that, a treat. You treat yourself and you're happy and then you continue eating well and exercising because you're happy, and it's all part of taking care of yourself. If the scale doesn't move some week but you're eating well and exercising, you're still doing good and taking care of yourself. If you hate your body and diet and exercise is punishment for your body for being so awful and fat, that same indulgence becomes a failure of willpower. That non-moving scale becomes just ANOTHER thing that you suck at. Which of those two attitudes do you think leads to long-term maintenance of a healthy lifestyle? They may both lead to weight loss, but if you're unhappy it's going to be harder to maintain it for a long period of time.0
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that is very true radioactivepirate!! .. your name is great by the way haha0
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I think it does to a point, when i'm sad or angry with myself or my life the last thing i want to do is work out i just want to sit and eat self pity food, JUNK. But when i have had a great day and i'm happy going for a run sounds nice and i want to treat my body better because i feel confident on the inside. Happiness goes a long way. That being said sometimes confidence or happiness with life can go the other way. For example when you go out on the weekends with your friends you might think ehh i deserve this(insert terrible food here) tonight.
It honestly comes down to determination and how bad you want this.
Start with small goals. like 5 pounds, then 10 pounds and so on and when you reach those goals reward yourself BUT NOT WITH FOOD. instead with a pedicure or maybe that new perfume or dress, or a relaxing bath. Whatever works for you and keeps you going.0 -
Don't make it all about weight loss. I eat right and exercise mainly because I want to lead a high quality of life as I age. Those two together are the closest we'll come to the Fountain of Youth; and if longevity isn't good enough a reason to motivate someone, then they'll have a hard time sticking with things.
That is true! Do you have a way that kept you motivated to lose weight?Happiness usually lends itself to a general positive attitude. That in turn helps keep one looking at small accomplishments and keeps a person optimistic in achieving goals. Attitude is everything in my opinion.
That said, even the most negative person can lose weight. It is just simple math. What matters is the will an interest, as well as the consistency in doing it. Having a positive attitude, or being happy gives you a edge.0 -
Nope.
I lost weight because I absolutely hated what I saw in the mirror. Vanity and self loathing fueled my fire.0 -
Thank you so much! That motivates me. It sounds like a good idea. It seems like the more I think about it the more i get nervous about my weight! Thanks for the add!Aw, dont be so hard on yourself!! Your a pretty girl and you sound really sweet. Everybody gets off track once in awhile, you cant beat yourself up over it. I found for me it was easier for me to loose weight when i wasn't thinking about it so much and realized theres things that are a lot more important and precious in life than how much i weigh. I would plan out what i was going to eat for the day earlier in the day, and then just do other things the rest of the day that i had to do and not think about it so much until it was time for lunch/dinner. Don't worry you sound like a smart girl, i think everything will work out just fine for you take care and God bless! 
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There was a really good article I once read called "I'll Be Happy When I'm Thin". The most important part of it for me was this:Thinking that you will be happy when you get thin is a slippery slope because there is no such thing as "happy". By that I mean once you reach your goal weight you don't suddenly attain a state of happy that stays put as long as you weigh that number.
Here's a link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/irene-rubaumkeller-/ill-be-happy-when-im-thin_b_187798.html0 -
Nope.
Weight loss = happiness.0 -
no prob, its very true and everything will be just fine, remember no more worries! 0
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Nah. I hate my belly jiggle and I'm like, "run, *****" and I'm like "no, I wanna sleep" then I'm like "OKAY STAY FAT THEN" and then I'm like "fine" and then whoa, skinny. True story.0
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That's what's happening to me now! i feel so pressured and I binge eat, binge exercise, and eat too little, ect. I feel so much better. I just get really bad anxiety thinking I might not lose weight even if I tried really hard. I'm scared of the failure. The anxiety gets really bad, that's where all the binge eating comes from. I love the analogy. Thank you!It can work if you're happy or not, but usually if you're not, you lose the weight, and you are just a skinnier, angrier person, ha! I had put un realistic expectations on myself, thinking that others had put them on me, and ended up binge eating, binge exercising, eating way too few calories etc....thinking that it would lead me to be happy. Well, I'm in a much better place, and it seems as though I'm shredding way better than before. It's easier, enjoyable, and instead of guilt guiding me, it's pleasure. You know that old story about the wind vs. the sun trying to get the jacket off of the dude sitting in the park? The wind tries with force and fails but the sun warms it right off of him. I think it is completely equivalent. Gotta LOVE dat fat away, hahaha, but real talk, works for me, agree with you 100%
That was the same for me...I have very bad anxiety, and always doubted myself about if what I was doing was working or not. I was afraid of stalling, not making progress, etc and would never just stick to a sound routine. When I finally just went for it, it worked for me, after I took the pressure off of my self. I always said I wanna be X pounds by a certain date or when I weigh X amount this girl will like me or this dude will respect me etc and the fear of failure destroyed me. They'll be some bumps along the way, but keep doing what you have found to work. Don't second guess yourself. You got this. Just remember you're doing it for you. 0 -
I have a tendency to get depressed depending on what is happening around me. I am on medication.
A couple of times I have had my best weight loss when I've been depressed. It's like it's the one thing I can control and when I do get good results I feel a gr8 surge of achievement which helps lift my mood.
I'm in a new job, been there one mth, and haven't worked for 3 years. I have been struggling with various emotions - people are in clicky groups and have only started really talking to me today; my boss sez I need to go faster and my supervisor implies that I'm taking the easy way out when replenishing the shelves. I feel stressed by these circumstances. And I haven't logged my food iin a couple of weeks or more and my lunch of choice at the moment is a Magnum Icecream.
So, yes I am unhappy at the moment and I am struggling getting back on track, but then in the past I have been very, very unhappy and have used my future eating plan as a tool to pull myself up, so I'm not sure wot the answer to ur question is - it's an interesting one......
Good luck. YOU CAN DO IT.0 -
It depends on how you process food and emotions. When I'm stressed, I often forget to eat, and I lose weight. When I'm happy, I tend to be more laissez-faire about my diet since I'm not too pressed to change. Right now my life is pretty stressful, and my diet and workout are the only things I can really control, so...yeah, weight loss is coming along.0
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Being kind to myself allowed me the room to not give up when I had a bad day. Elsewise the cycle of self-hate would have continued and I'd long since have given up in frustration and resentment. Being too rigid makes it too easy to fall off.0
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I think happiness encourages things like motivation and optimism. When depressed, I don't want to do anything and I feel like nothing is worth it anyway. So, for me, yes, I lose weight much better without that cloud hanging over me.
Physiologically, stress hormones can also play a role in fat storage. From an evolutionary standpoint, it's beneficial to pack on some fat in stressful times. For us now, when most of us on this site have all the food we could ever need and are just worried about day to day things, it doesn't benefit us to gain when stressed.0 -
Yup!! If you come under overweight category.
Weight Loss gives you more freedom to move your body. You feel link you have extra stamina to go extra mile.0 -
That is true! Do you have a way that kept you motivated to lose weight?Happiness usually lends itself to a general positive attitude. That in turn helps keep one looking at small accomplishments and keeps a person optimistic in achieving goals. Attitude is everything in my opinion.
That said, even the most negative person can lose weight. It is just simple math. What matters is the will an interest, as well as the consistency in doing it. Having a positive attitude, or being happy gives you a edge.
I *TRY* to remain posititve, but like any normal person there are so many outside stressors and so much negative noise around, it is difficult at times. Even in the worst though I try to remind myself that whatever is trying to bring me down is temporary and my internal outlook and happiness is my choice. I continually try to choose to be positive and happy.
I've posted this a bunch of times, but this is central to the way I try to live:ATTITUDE
by: Charles Swindoll
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.0
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