Welcome back to the 12 Keys to a Healthy Weight. Last week we discussed the process of change, and today we’ll start with the first of our 12 keys.
Key #1: Examine the problem you’re having with your weight
The most important part of defining your problem is that it’s your problem. It’s too easy to compare ourselves to fashion models, friends, family or others and decide all the ways we don’t stack up or fit in. Yet this kind of self-hatred only leads to more eating, extreme dieting and lack of healthy exercise.
Defining the problem is an important step because it helps you identify challenges and begin to pierce denial where needed.
To identify your problems with weight and food, be as objective as you can, while still taking responsibility for your choices. Go back to specific examples where you made unhealthy choices and try to pinpoint what was going on for you.
Here are some questions for journaling, therapy and reflection as you examine the problem you’re having with your weight:
- How are your eating and weight affecting the rest of your life?
- What would happen if nothing were to change about your eating and your weight?
- What have you not wanted to admit or think about your eating and your weight?
Defining the problem empowers you to move forward in this solution-focused process and find a long-lasting solution that will keep working, even during the challenging days.
Next week, we’ll look at the second key to a healthy weight, which is to identify the beliefs you have about food, eating and weight.