Our emotions decide whether we gain or lose weight. How you feel
at any given moment will be the controlling force of your weight
loss effort... Weight loss is all based upon our feelings and
I would challenge anybody to refute that statement. We as human
beings do things that bring us pleasure and we avoid those things
that cause us pain.
Why do we decide to overeat or indulge in those things that may
not be the best for us? Because it brings us pleasure. Think about
many occasions in your lifetime in which food was the main focus.
When we celebrate with friends or family, we eat. When we mourn
a loss of a loved one, food again is there consoling people. When
we are nervous, we eat. Sad, we eat. When we are happy, what do
we do? That's right, eat. So by overeating and consuming excess
calories with excess food, we start packing on the unwanted pounds.
But it brings us short term pleasure to eat. If it brings us pleasure,
it is emotion-based.
The instant pleasure of eating that Godiva chocolate or extra
piece of pizza outweighs the pain and guilt that will come at
a later time when you notice the scale starting to creep up again.
We do things at the moment that will bring us pleasure right then
and there, often not thinking of the future.
So, if weight gain is tied to emotions, then it stands to reason
that weight loss would be as well. If we do things based upon
pleasure, we must find pleasure in starting and maintaining a
weight-loss and fitness program. If you do not recieve some pleasure
from it, you will not continue it.
We must have strong enough reasons in the not-so-distant future
that will be pleasurable enough to keep us motivated in continuing
our weight-loss attempts.
What are some of your motivating reasons for you to reach your
goals? I bet they are emotion-based.
- Do you want to fit into that new bathing suit to impress your
spouse?
- Do you want to attract the person of your dreams?
- Do you want to enter your first bodybuilding or fitness show?
- Or do you just want to feel better and have more energy?
Whatever you chose, the benefit you will receive later on must
be pleasurable enough so that you will resist the temptation of
giving in and enjoying immediate pleasure of a piece of cake or
scoop of Ben and Jerry's.
