Weight Loss Comes at the End of a Process

Sometimes I think I have more discussions with clients about weight than about eating. They tell me what happens when they weigh themselves, ask how often they should hop on the scale, explain that they want to stop but can’t help themselves, and just plain can’t seem to get weight off their minds. Does this sound like you? Truth is, a focus on weight may actively prevent you from becoming a “normal” eater. Remember this: Weight loss comes at the end of the eating process. Many of you act as if it’s a determinant of what you “should” or “shouldn’t” eat. It is not. You know what happens when you weigh yourself. Either you’ve lost weight or haven’t gained any and are thrilled. Or you haven’t dropped pounds or as many as you’d hoped you would and you’re disappointed. If you’re happy about your weight loss, you may feel it’s okay to eat more than is necessary. If you’re unhappy, you may turn to food to manage your disappointment and frustration and give up caring about your body. Any way you look at it, weighing yourself does not portend a happy ending to the story. All you need to know to become a “normal” eater is about eating, not weight. The goal is to learn and practice “normal” eating skills. You are learning no new skills when you jump on the scale. I can’t help but harp on this point: you are doing nothing positive for yourself by focusing on weight. It teaches you nothing and misdirects your energies. If you want to be a...
Source: Normal Eating - Category: Eating Disorders Authors: Source Type: blogs