If you are overweight or obese then I'm sure you have wondered what different factors have helped to contribute packing on the pounds.
Are you one of those people that have tried every diet, yet nothing seems to work for you.
Or, can you lose weight on a diet but the pounds seem to creep back on over time and soon you are back to your old habits with even more weight to lose?
Ultimately, we all want to know why it is so difficult to lose weight and keep it off for good.
Of course we can attibute weight gain and obesity to genetic factors, medicines or medical conditions, stress, lack of sleep, unhealthy diet and eating habits, inactivity, pregnancy, hormones, age/ethnicity, the list goes on and on.
Yet, I think there is another cause of obesity that is more deep seated, more spiritually based, and has to do with your connection to yourself.
Our Mind: An Unconventional Cause of Obesity
What if I told you that your weight gain and obesity starts in your head. Is that a hard pill to swallow?
Science is getting closer to understanding the powerful link between our minds and our physical bodies.
We already know we can influence our body's biological responses simply due to what we are thinking.
Remember that major fight you had with your spouse last week?
Or how about the co-worker that made the snide remark behind your back?
Can you feel your heart race, your palms sweat, and your teeth gritting? What about pleasant thoughts and memories?
Think about your last relaxing vacation or when you visited a friend that you had not seen for a long time.
Do you remember the warm, inviting, loving feelings that these memories conjured up? Can you actually feel your body responding as if you were there again?
Our Body Listens To Our Thoughts
So if our bodies simply follow through on the thoughts we think, why are so many of us fat, unhappy, and depressed?
Why would we purposely think negative thoughts?
Well, that question isn't so easy to answer. You see, each of us has a history. You could say that each of us is the summation of our experiences.
We all react differently to situations, behaviors, and personality's.
What upsets someone may not affect someone else. But the fact remains, we all get hurt and experience pain.
If we do not actively resolve this pain at the time that it occurs, we then bury it inside ourselves. This is a self-defence mechanism and is meant to do one thing: survive.
When we are children we do not have the emotional intelligence or faculties to effectively dissolve a hurtful situation.
More often than not, a child bury's this pain inside of them because that is their way of dealing with the it.
If a child doesn't have any means to release this painful experience, then it remains inside them and festers.
If this happens on a regular basis, you could say that the child has built up a senstivity to this issue and is now very vulnerable to any attack (even one not meant to cause harm!).
Pass the Padding Please!
One of my favorite books is The Power Is Within You by Louise L. Hay.
In this book she explains that food is not the problem.
Overating is simply a need for protection. She explains, realize there is something going on in your life that is making you feel unsafe and insecure.
It could be your work, your spouse, your sexuality, or your life in general.
If you are overweight, put the food/weight issue aside and work on the pattern that says, I need protection because I'm insecure.
If you have been battling the bulge for most of your life or have just recently put on a little weight then the above statement should offer you some relief.
This revelation isn't going to miraculously have you lose all your excess weight overnight, but it will do one thing.
It will shift the responsibility back to you. Only you are responsible for your thoughts, your health-state, your body, your LIFE.
The causes of obesity can be many, but all have one root cause and that is you.
When you take the time to understand why are you self-medicating with food you will realise that you are creating distance (literally) between you and others.
You are probably feeling insecure, fearful, unsure, and vulnerable.
Piling on the pounds is a subconscious act to help keep you nestled in a safe cocoon where no one can hurt you.
You might be saying to yourself, OK, I get that I'm feeling pretty low and looking for self-protection.
I'm ready to make changes,where do I start?
Depending on how deep seated your issues are, that will depend on the amount of work required to get over this need to protect yourself.
You can start with some positive affirmations like these:I am at peace with my own feelings.
- I am safe where I am.
- I create my own security.
- I love and approve of myself.
You can resolve to learn about diet and nutrition so that you are consciously aware of the foods that you put in your body and how they affect you.
Talk with a friend about your feelings, join a group, resolve to lose weight at your own pace where you feel comfortable with the new changes about to take place.
You are embarking on a journey and teaching yourself new, positive, thoughts to help you love yourself.
Your body will respond in time and soon you will be working with your body instead of against it.
Weight gain can be caused by environmental, health, and genetic factors, but I belive all are just surface level issues covering up the real cause for obesity.
You have the power to choose your thoughts, why not make them positive?
Loving yourself is the key to a happy and fulfilled life and hopefully you will see that you have the power to form your thoughts and also the power to influence your body to lose weight for good.
If you are interested in knowing about healthy eating, you should watch the video below.
