During my 16 years dedicated to chronic dieting and feeling out of control around food, one of my enduring beliefs was that being slim would mean I would be lighter, happier, confident and in control. After a few weeks of ‘being good’ and in control (as opposed to being ‘bad’ and tucking into toast, biscuits and any food not nailed down) the result, when I stepped on the bathroom scales, was that my weight had dropped.
 
The weeks of being good were very suddenly unravelled, for seemingly no specific reason. Isn’t it amazing how much food you can eat in five minutes? I have been known to eat an entire packet of biscuits in less than ten minutes, and it all goes down so easily when dipped in a cup of tea! Then the old familiar feelings of guilt and shame set in. I did so well in virtually every other area of life, but food was my downfall, always.
 
I was desperately seeking slimness but never thought to ask myself “Why have I put myself in the position of being overweight again?”, “Why am I holding on to weight?”  While a part of you does not want that extra weight and desperately wants to shed it, is there another part of you holding on to it?
 
You might never have considered or been asked these questions - why have you chosen to be overweight and what’s in it for you by being overweight?
 
When I ask this to my Heyday participants, they look at me with an expression of incredulity. Others look like they want to hurl an object at me. There is usually a moment of silence, followed by: "Are you for real? I don’t WANT to be overweight. I WANT to lose weight.  Why, WHY would I want to be overweight?"
 
But there are advantages to remaining overweight. If you are not aware of these benefits and why you’re holding on to your extra weight, then no amount of dieting will keep those pounds at bay for good. If you have recently lost weight and fear that you will gradually regain the pounds, then it is crucial that you look at the reasons why you might be holding onto extra weight.
 
Here are 3 classic examples from Heyday’s online participants:
  1. “My excuse for not doing things in life has been my weight. When I lose it, I won’t have an excuse to put off life, such as applying for another job, or even getting on a flight”.
  2. “Having extra weight means I can blend into the background, without being the focus of attention, and I don’t feel that I’m ‘on show’”.
  3. “Weight makes me feel protected from other people. I think I might feel vulnerable if I lost it”.
In being slim you are exposed to what you tried to get away from by having extra weight. Being overweight is not simply one-sided and negative - it has a function and a purpose. You may feel bad about your weight, but can you see a new meaning in your weight?
 
Give yourself time to take in this new insight. This self-awareness means it will not have the same power over you, and you can gradually choose to respond differently. “Is it really true that people won’t like me when I’m slimmer?” If you are not aware of the benefits of your weight and your concerns about letting it go, you will struggle to reach and maintain a healthy weight.
 
Can you see any benefits to having extra weight, or have you anxieties around letting go of weight or food?
Weight Management Expert

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