Why Can’t I Lose Weight?
Stress and Emotional Triggers
Do you struggle to lose weight?
We all know about emotional eating, the need to eat for comfort, or if we are sad or angry.
But did you know it often goes deeper than that? There has been a lot of research into why we over eat, and why people are often unable to lose weight, or having lost the weight it goes straight back on.
When dealing with immediate emotions such as being dumped by a partner, falling out with a friend, being bullied or having issues with our boss it is obvious that we are comfort eating. However, there often deeper reasons.
Emptiness and missing aspects to our lives
Often people who are lonely, or who feel unloved, unsupported or undervalued will find it impossible to lose weight. Their eating fills a void. It is unfortunate that the foods usually craved are the feel good foods, the ones that generate feelings of pleasure. This usually involves sugar and fat. In addition, cakes, muffins, cookies, pasta, pizza are all made from wheat, which contains gliadin, an opiate which binds to the opiate receptors in the brain and triggers excessive appetite.
Read HERE for more info on opiates in wheat.
It becomes difficult to function without these feel good foods as we experience withdrawal, in addition to which the void in our lives is not fulfilled.
Primitive, Instinctive Reaction to Stresses
Our primitive, reptilian or instinctive brain can feel our daily stress and tries to interpret the cause. It can associate the stress with physical dangers, famine or threat from the elements such as winter cold. To deal with the perceived threat of hunger or cold it will respond by slowing the metabolism and increasing appetite leading to fat storage. The extra fat would have been essential for the survival of our ancestors.
Solutions
In light of the above, it becomes apparent that we need to resolve these past traumas and emotional stresses in order to lose weight and keep it off.
So, how can you do this?
Mindfulness
Bringing an awareness to your emotions is a great start. Acknowledge what triggers you and work to let it go. Look for areas of stress in your life and make changes to address that stress, or at least put in place a plan to make the necessary changes, whether it is a change of job, to resolve relationship issues or release past traumas. Having a light at the end of the tunnel can be very beneficial.
Seek Help
There are a number of therapies and healing modalities that can help. It is important to be sure that you feel really comfortable and can connect with the person you choose. Some therapists and healers offer a free introductory session, a chance to meet before committing to a full session. This is a great idea as there is nothing worse than starting a session and 5 minutes in you are sitting there thinking I don’t want to be here!!.
Having a team of people to help is also a good idea, drawing on whichever approach is needed at the time. You may see one person for a while then someone else, then maybe go back to the first, each assisting you with a specific issue.
You may want to consider the following:
Talk therapies such as:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)
- Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP)
Energetic work, including:
- Emotional freedom techniques (EFT)
- Reiki and Chakra balancing, Energy healing
- CranioSacral therapy or Bowen therapy
In summary
However you decide to deal with your stresses and emotional issues or traumas, remember that this a process, not a one session instant fix. The process can be difficult as you work to bring changes to your life, release your emotions and stresses, and reprogram long standing habits and beliefs.
Stick with it and you will ultimately become less reactive, happier, more whole and most importantly be able to lose weight and keep it off!