What are your fears that result in weight loss self sabotage? Thinking back, you’ve witnessed yourself in the act of self sabotage and wonder why you’re doing it. Let’s put some of these deeper topics on the table and make sure you can check them off the list, because these will definitely set you backwards if unaddressed.
It’s crazy to think that you would actually fear losing weight since it’s the very thing you’ve been wanting. Hear me out and let me know if you can relate to any of these. Be honest with yourself when you assess your true emotions (as ridiculous as they might sound).
Familiarity of Weight Loss
Being overweight is safe; it’s familiar. You may not like the narrative but you know that story very well…you yo-yo diet, track the scale, track your food, etc. Once you’ve lost the weight, what’s next? That next part is unknown and therefore, it is scary. What will you spend your time obsessing over if not on losing weight? Now, you’ve lost your identity too (even though it’s not an identity you consciously want; it is your identity). Fear leads us to weight loss self sabotage.
Fear of Failure Leads to Weight Loss Self Sabotage
The human brain is fascinating. Instead of judging ourselves, let’s understand the real anxieties. Picture this scenario. You have been telling yourself that if you lose weight, you’ll have the confidence to ask for the promotion, date, or do anything you want. Now, you’ve lost the weight but you still feel stuck. The blame is on you as a person rather than on your weight. That’s a lot to accept. Of course, this isn’t true (only if you make it true), but you can see how avoidance can be a more attractive decision. That’s NOT going to happen to YOU though! Let’s change it!
Fear of Attention Leads to Weight Loss Self Sabotage
For many women, getting unwanted attention once you’ve lost the weight is uncomfortable. There’s so much added pressure with stares and compliments. It simply feels uneasy and therefore you seek the familiar, which is to gain all the weight back. Again, let’s work with the mind instead of judging it. How do I settle into my new body and what often feels like a new world.
Self Sabotage for Relationships with People and Food
For many, the thought of being denied your comfort food and the enjoyment that it brings whenever you want it (even if it’s daily) can easily lead to weight loss self sabotage. You may have never learned to deal with anxiety/stress and what will you do if you can no longer resort to food? You’ve already had a set of friends or family that you eat certain foods with and live a particular “unhealthy” lifestyle with. Are you willing to leave that group for a healthier lifestyle? That relationship will probably have to change and that was your tribe. How will you bring those two worlds together? There’s a lost with both food and people. Do you see how friction can lead us unknowingly back to square one?
What fears do you have about losing weight? Recognize that this is on an unconscious level. None of us walk around saying we will self sabotage our weight loss success. Let’s resolve it so THIS time your weight loss will sustain forever. No more yo-yo dieting again.
Support is the key to success.
Changing the mind and the body is a lot to change all at once and can feel overwhelming. Humans are hardwired to need support; seek it both personally and professionally. Get a free 30-minute phone consultation. See if this is the right match for you by addressing natural weight loss, cravings, emotional eating, balanced diet, disease prevention, nutrition, and getting to the root cause of what’s keeping you stuck. Demystify all the internet noise and get clarity. See what others are saying on Google and Yelp.
For more articles, read https://happyfoodhealth.com/blog
~ Samantha Hua, Online Nutrition Coach & Holistic Health Coach, San Diego, CA
