Depression and Weight Loss

Hi Everyone,
May 1st here in Australia and as good a day as any to rethink and restart my health program. I prefer to call it a program rather than an effort to lose weight because clearly that hasn't worked over the past 2 years. I have been thinking about how it may just be possible that how we treat our bodies is a reflection of what we think about ourselves. If we have felt the true difficulties and challenges of a hard life with all it demands of us, it may be the case that we feel we can let ourselves go in terms of self-care. Ultimately, what we put into our bodies either promotes our health or subtracts from it. We may ignore basic scientific principles of good and sound nutrition and escape into the world of denial and not everyone in Egypt lives in denial. Today, I stepped on the dreaded scales and rather than feel awful and sad, I thanked my body for having to work so hard to carry all of my weight (105kg) and I have decided to offer my body an alternative. The challenge to be healthy and fit and this will be achieved by making great choices. Of course this requires mindfulness, increased discipline, coming here more often and discuss the struggles including the impulses and and urges. My body seemed to relax when I offered it a choice to become healthy and I would like to look after this silent but fragile friend which needs to carry me into my senior years. Maybe the beginning of a beautiful relationship. One I have never had before. Join me in the journey?

Shel

Ok....Now I truly understand why New Years Resolutions become obsolete after January 2nd. Yes. I was passing back and forth between KFC and McDonalds yesterday and it was if my mind was turned off and my body on autopilot. It was close folks. Fortunately, I did not give myself enough time to follow this dissociated tendency as I had a tight schedule with work but I am fairly sure that the behavioural pattern may have easily won out against any good intention. Thank goodness I can write to you today and say that I bothered to think about the risk of loosing my focus and my first hypnosis session I will record today will be about awareness and staying alert. I am not sure us "overeaters" respond the same way to hunger signals or even food cues in our environment. For me, the idea seems to sprout out of "nowhere" and the next thing I know I am moving directly in the line of fire where I can grab whatever food is easiest, fastest and least nutritious. Welcome Mt Everest. Despite my profession, and regardless of my 30 years doing it, I feel like I am in preschool when it comes to developing the strategies of self-control, and emotional regulation around eating. I will have to achieve this one step at a time. I am going to be transparent and honest about the experience and learn about myself as the journey continues. (Oh yes, I have lost 2 kg) Thanks for listening.
Shel