Want to lose weight?

January 12th, 2009 by Jayne Cox - The Body Image Expert

I know that title will appeal to so many of you, it promises something you're looking for. It's big business!

If youve found this article and youre about to 'google' for help with weight loss OR you have already trawled the internet and found yourself here, I really want to give you a new way of thinking about losing weight and keeping it off! Offering an alternative route to take.

Weight loss is a huge business and for as long as I can remember the diet industry assumes that we dont know how, what and when to eat and need someone to decide all of this for us. We need to abandon ourselves to a plan, hand control over to another human being and restrict ourselves for life. The message seems to be that we cant be trusted with feeding ourselves. We even need someone to provide our food for us because were just not capable of preparing our food. Is this true and can this be the be the way forward?

I dont believe it is and in my personal and professional experience I have seen how education and the understanding of you and your thoughts and behaviour and how you use food can really provide the change youre looking for. If you know why you eat, understand your triggers and find alternatives and an outlet for feelings, doesn't it stand to reason you'll change? I can't think of anything else we'd continue to throw money at, when it proved not to work for us.

So before you sign up to yet another diet, no doubt on offer in January, think about how many diets youve already tried, how wonderful it all seemed at the beginning and how enthusiastic you were at first. Does this sound familiar?

What goes wrong ?

You get bored You lose will power You feel deprived You cant find time to make different meals from the family You find the convenience meals dull! Youre hungry You get triggered and eat! The truth is that youre not actually changing how you think, view yourself and your relationship with food. If you dont change, the chances are youll be a dieter for life. Losing weight and regaining all you lost plus a bit more. You keep your weight controlled by being on a diet, now is that how you want to live?What you can do now! Decide you want to change Speak to someone about how you feel and stop swallowing down your feelings Remember its not about food, its about feelings Imagine yourself being fitter and what youll do! Start a journal, tell yourself its time for change Stop dieting once and for all You can speak to a professional to find help and support with your choice to change for life. Lifes for living, what have you got to lose?