Most of us do not have a weight problem! You probably think: “What…? I am fat, I can see it, everyone else can see it, and how can I not have a weight problem?” Well, let me explain, we have a self-care problem which manifests through our weight. In other words, our mind is more the problem than the actual body or weight gain.  

We have to change our mindset, get the right mindset.  You and I are not alone; every person that is overweight has suffered from emotional eating at some point.  Recurring weight issues are seldom about an insatiable appetite, but more about an emotional need.  Most of us suffer from psychological issues of some sort, which still affects us and causes us to fill the void with food. 

Treating food as a crutch is what most of us do, so the first step in maintaining a healthy weight is to treat food as sustenance rather than a crutch.  By forming a trusting partnership with your feelings, emotions and true desires, you are freeing yourself of emotional eating.  Also to understand the difference between cautious eating and obsessing about food is equally important.  The difference between cautious eating and obsessive eating is this; cautious eating is the awareness when health is your ultimate goal, whereas obsessive eating is when weight loss is your only goal.  

It is good to be discerning, but allowing yourself the occasional treat will keep you more motivated than if you obsess about every calorie.  When you learn to be healthy 80% of the time you are more likely to succeed with your weight goal.  Teach yourself to make simple substitutions that will still keep you satisfied and keep you succeeding months on end.  

Another crucial aspect to consider is accepting yourself as less than perfect, especially when it comes to your weight. One of the most dangerous, yet very sadly common things is linking self-esteem to what the scale says.  We must never forget that our weight is not totally under our control, for example genetics, hormones and age can all play a role in our weight.  

Rather try and channel your efforts into things you can control, such as exercising and eating as healthy as you can. When you go through cycles of weight loss and gain, a common trap to avoid would be absolute rigidity, and also inconsistency.  Reverting back to your old eating pattern after a period of deprivation will cause your to regain the weight, and ever more of it, and this is the crux of yo-yo dieting.  

Also something that is not ideal at all, is focusing on weight loss for a special occasion, like a wedding or function. Focus on healthy and consistent eating only, then individual occasions are less likely to be an issue.

But why do we find ourselves habitually slipping into this pattern?  A core consideration is the beliefs we hold about ourselves, food, weight and our ability to follow through on decisions.  These beliefs we have stem from past experiences and how we are brought up, hence we run the risk of repeating the same mistakes over and over again.  

Working through emotional baggage should be our most important long-term goal, but knowledge of the food groups, calories and food labels also play a major key role. Very poor self-discipline also play a major role, and no accountability for what we chose to eat or how we chose to feel because we don’t understand why we are gaining little by little each and every month, no matter how hard we seem to try.  

Our ideal healthy weight starts with the right attitude and mindset.