Following a diet and losing weight can occasionally make us feel miserable and unhappy, and this is not necessarily because we are trying to change our eating habits. Many of us do not realise that there are often hidden purposes that our weight serves, and when we begin to shed those unwanted pounds, we are suddenly hit by the realisation that we feel exceedingly uncomfortable.
This discomfort can often lead to us sabotaging our weight loss in order to restore our former feelings of comfort and contentment, even if deep down we believe that we really want to lose weight.
What kind of hidden purposes can our weight serve?
We may be using our weight as a shield, using it as an excuse to avoiding achieving success in other goals or participating in other activities. For example, we may feel trapped in an unhappy relationship, but it provides stability and familiarity so we remain tolerant and stay. Perhaps we may be considering that once we have lost weight we will finish the relationship and try to find a more compatible partner. We may be thinking this way, but this thought may also scare us, resulting in us persistently sabotaging our weight loss so we do not have to make these uncomfortable, life changing decisions.
We can relate this same concept to many different scenarios, from moving house, embarking on a new career or even starting a family. Even though we are really enthusiastic about doing these things, we may feel unsure or nervous about them, and we can use our weight issues as a convenient excuse to avoid following them through.
Another common hidden purpose is using food for the comfort and soothing of emotional turmoil. Perhaps we have this habit under control and begin to lose weight, only to find that our weight loss itself makes us feel anxious and vulnerable, so we revert back to our comfort foods to stabilise our emotions and make us feel better.
The best way to uncover any hidden purposes is to ask ourselves these questions:
- Would losing weight make me happy?
- Is there anyone in my life who would not like a slim confident me?
- Are there any negative consequences to my weight loss?
- Is there anyone in my life who would not like a slim confident me?
- Are there any negative consequences to my weight loss?
Once we have established our most significant hidden purposes, we should take time each day to work through them and find the best solution. Perhaps we may need the advice of a qualified therapist or hypnotist to help release any fears and align our conscious and subconscious minds to enable them to work in harmony to help us achieve our weight loss goals.