The Psychology of Weight Loss Issues Part Two: Getting Through the Process

In the first article on this topic, I discussed the role the mind plays in starting a program to lose weight. I focus on weight loss because it's been my own personal issue for years, but the truth is that the mind is a strong partner in any form of healthy living plan, whether to lose, gain, or maintain a healthy weight.

In this article, I will touch on some of the psychological hurdles that show up during the weight loss process itself. As an individual gets used to eating healthy and making exercise a regular habit, mental setbacks can occur as well as the perception of how to go about the process. These setbacks account for many things, including yo-yo weight loss and chronic dieting.

The following are the main psychological points about the weight loss process and how to adopt the ways of thinking to keep on the path of good eating and an active lifestyle.

The gung ho beginning stages falter quickly - There's a certain pattern for many people when starting out on a healthy eating routine. The brain may instantly form an all-or-nothing mentality. The experts tell you to make small changes, but someone who wants to seriously lose weight is likely to ignore this. Instead, they overhaul everything. Unhealthy foods in the house get tossed out in favor of fruits, veggies, lean meats, fat free and sugar free foods, diet soda, and bottled water. Gym memberships and exercise equipment purchased along with new clothes, tennis shoes, MP3 players, and sweat towels. Some people even get caught up in buying the things they think they need to have based on preconceived notions of how an "athlete" is supposed to look.

This original stage can be a good thing. With this burst of confidence in one's ability to achieve their goals, water weight loss occurs quickly, which acts in itself as a motivator. Many people find an addiction to exercise and a natural desire to make it to the gym every day. In this stage, a person is likely to get a large boost of self esteem.