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Tip of the Week: You Are Unique

Do you find yourself thinking that each new diet craze is going to be the one that finally works for you? Does each infomercial, product, or plan, provide you with a sense of hope? Most people that want to lose weight answer yes to those questions but human beings, as cliché as it sounds, are as unique as snowflakes. There isn't a single plan that can work for everyone. So, how do you find the one that's right for you?

Rumi, the 15th century Persian poet, said, "Out beyond ideas of right and wrong doing, there is a field. I will meet you there." When it comes to dieting, exercising, and overcoming emotional eating there is no right or wrong. There is only what works best for you. Anytime, you hear anyone proclaiming a fixed rule, or regulation about weight, run the other way. The best approach is to cultivate a personalized, individualized plan that works best for your specific needs. First, you'll need to determine why you overeat (and that reason is different for everyone) after you promise yourself that you won't. Then, you'll have to determine if you're really ready to give up your current eating patterns. Once you know those things you can start to cultivate healthy habits that work with your likes and dislikes, your lifestyle, and your personality. Don't just do it, do it your own unique way.


	Shrink Yourself has helped thousands of people with the 12-week online program. With its tested method, it helps you end cravings, food addiction, overeating, emotional eating and even yo-yo diets. Learn about the program!

17 Comments In the order they were posted.

christina said...

Emotional over eating is ruining my life!

evie said...

Mine too.. I alwys promise myself that I won't di it anymore but I always do

LisaG said...

Me too and I've had gastric bypass! I have gained back half of the weight which I'm glad it's not all but I am ashamed to have gained any.

Dougyinnawindow said...

I am of the opinion that nothing is more deeply rooted in our humble beginnings than the self perpetuated disease called obesity. Overeating for comfort goes to the destruction and obviation of our most valuable defense and that being our self esteem. I do not need to ingest alcohol, nor nicotine, nor peyote...but...in order that I continue to exist I must...eat. I have tried everything...but yet I cannot seem to calm that tempest which alcoholics describe as the "football" in the stomach. Where is it? Why is it? How do I destroy it? Go around it? My life is near over and I continue to disregard my own health choosing instead to comfort myself with food. Is it a matter strictly of irresponsibility when one is completely conscious of the possible repercussions of obesity...I have lost over 90 lbs. but sadly gained it all back and this reinforcing the idea that I cannot succeed so why try.

Nette said...

Dougyinnawindow , I am in the same boat. I've lost the same 50-60 lbs about 20 times over, with nothing to show for it but added lbs. Never have reached my goal. I'm so tired of this treadmill. I don't get why people use other drugs, and no one gets why I use food. Everyone thinks I'm stupid or willful or lazy, that I'm a loser. No one sees my accomplishments, because they think they get to point to my weight, therefore nothing else is important. I have conquered many things in my life. This is really the only thing I have failed at in my life. Apparently it is the most important thing in the universe, since it seems to trump everything else in the eyes of others.

ET said...

Nette...I hear you. Lose/gain/treadmill, hurtful comments of others. I did a comeback that works - "I may have a problem you can see, but once you open your mouth, your problem becomes evident." Others who feel the need to shame us because of our physical appearance are to be pitied it's the only way they can feel "better than." And yes, Dougy, we must eat to survive. I have curtailed eating ANYTHING that I CANNOT PUT DOWN. If I can't stop eating it, then I do to it what an alcoholic must do to alcohol. Alcoholics still have to drink water, etc, to survive they just have to be careful about which beverages. So I'm down to just a few foods that won't lead to overindulgence. When we're out with family or at an eating establishment, I take the time to order what I know will work for me for sustenance without making me crave more past hunger. That has helped me become aware of what's behind the binge, and that's been helpful. My Best to you beautiful people...

SABRINA said...

I lost 190 pounds a few years ago. I was a yo-yo dieter all my life but this time was different. I had no help from "commercial" programs that I could use as a crutch to gain it all back when I reached my goal and no "operation" because I could not motivate myself off of my couch. I researched food online then I started walking and made a change from something bad to something good once a week in my food. I ended up "waking up" to the fact that I am a "food-aholic" compulsive eater too. I found out that certain foods triggered my "cravings" to the point that I binged uncontrollably. So I had to "quit" those foods, which included bread and processed foods. I had to get to a point where I would promise myself if I still wanted it tomorrow I could have it then. After a few minutes the desire would go away and tomorrow would never come. It is a daily battle. "If I don't buy it, I won't eat it" is a saying that I repeat at least 50 times in the grocery store. I sometimes HAVE to put a certain food in my grocery cart to relax, then go drop it back off again before I reach the check out counter. I have learned so much in the past 2 years about food and what makes me fat. It's emotional, it's additives, it's sugar addiction. My best advise? Forgive yourself. The whole would seems to be against your attempt at getting your life back in control. You are your own champion. You are the only one who can save you. You have the strength within you. I BELIEVE IN YOU and I LOVE YOU.

scg said...

Sabrina....what you said is so true!!!! Although I've yo-yoed for years, I still have hope. One of my favorite quotes is by John Wooden..."Failure in not fatal. Failing to change might be." I know I have failed, and each time my spirit plummets. I end up depressed and downtrodden. However, somewhere within lies the eternal hope that if I can do it and if I give completely up then I'll simply suffocate myself. I find myself on yet another plan...diet? NO....food plan....not eating the trigger foods..for me, sugar, bread, pastas..all those lovely easy carbs. I'm a firm believer that food plans must be individualized to the person, nothing works for everyone in the same way. I'm taking it one day at a time, just like AA. Afterall, I am a food addict..no doubt about it. To those who seem to have given up....DON"T!! Get up one more time! Check out books such as FROM THE FIRST BITE. It was an eye-opener for me. As hard as it might sound, be your own cheerleader and do for yourself, no one else. It's amazing what we as human beings can do when we put our mind to work.....ONE DAY AT A TIME!!!!! ONE BITE AT A TIME!!!

Gay said...

Wow! Sabrina's comment really hit home with me. A few years ago I lost 70 lbs by eating right and working out 5-6 days a week but, I couldn't/didn't maintain the enthusiam and gained most of it back. I am, once and for ever, ready to tackle and overcome my issues with food and lose the excess weight and be healthier. I believe the trigger that leads me to over indulge is liquid, flavored creamer in my coffee. I've tried to drink coffee without it but I hate the taste of the coffee without it. Maybe I should just stop coffee altogether? I like a hot drink on the mornings I work. Any suggestions?

MeMe said...

Gay, Chai Tea helped me kick coffee. I agree the creamer tends to set off cravings even if I use the sugar free. Green tea is better and my fave is Chai/Stash brand. I am 4 months w/o coffee and feeling good but since I am compulsive eater I joined OA am now trying to find abstain.

Lisa said...

I love my coffee, I used to do the sugar and creamer, and it added a lot of calories to my daily intake since I drink a lot of coffee. I decided to take one of the ingredients out, "the sugar" it was difficult to restrain from adding it for a couple weeks, but today If I added sugar it would not taste good to me, so I think in this particular circumstance it's a matter of getting used to it and now I associate sugared coffee with cough syrup, yuck. If you look on the ingredients of creamer it contains a trace amount of sugar anywaysee list of ingredients. I also agree with the green tea idea, lots of antioxidants and I associate that with peaceful feelings and serenity! Always be kind to yourself!

Debra said...

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.

Deneen said...

I say these affirmations everyday and others to keep the hungries away. Even if I don't believe them, I say them anyway. Putting myself down and beating myself up only makes me feel worse so I choose to build myself up with these lovely words. They say we are our own worst enemy. Why not become our own best friend?....... "Everything I need is within me, therefore I have everything I need." "I have the power to choose what I think, do and say." "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." "I love myself as I am right now." "I feel good, I look good, I AM good." "STOP* THNK* BREATHE* CHOOSE" "Old habits are easily broken" "I am grateful for all that I have"

Anne White said...

Dear Dr. Gould, I have been reading your very interesting tips for weight losers for many months now. This is the best and most sympathetic advice I have ever read on this subject. I myself have lost some weight over the years, very slowly, and find it easy to keep it off. Many of your tips remind me of the method I use -- and am trained in -- which brings about change and balance in the body and mind by addressing the unconscious mind. I'm sending you a small description here, out of appreciation for the work you are doing. The process I use is based on self-hypnosis and self-love. It is called "BodyMind Balancing." Right now I am leading two parallel groups here in Amsterdam, Holland. It is a 7-day, 1 hour a day guided meditation, which does not specifically address weight loss, but can be used for anything in the body -mind that is out of balance. After the 7 days, there is a BookCD of the same name that people can use to carry on by themselves. The beautiful thing is that it works through relaxation, so the participants don't have to "do" anything. And within a short time, they find themselves easily making small changes and become more confident of their own ability to manage their own lives. I can write more if you are interested. Sincerely, Anne White

lisa b said...

Change is scary, any type of change. A lot of the affirmations listed above also work for me, "Pause, just breath....one day at a time" "To be better, not perfect today! Today I am working on trusting MYSELF, me. This is also difficult. I've lost 40 pounds, coming up on my year anniversary this month in keeping it off. Was never able to have this type of success until reading Dr. Gould's book. We can do this ladies, not all at once, but little by little.

Emelia said...

Thank you. This helps me see the feelings of coping and unidentified 'new-emotional-territory' I have experienced in losing weight and fluctuating and what they really mean.

margaret said...

It is so good to knovv there are others vvho feel the same vvay that I do! I thought I vvas the only one feeling povverless about my vveight. I alvvays tell myself that i am not a garbage bin!! Leftovers belongs in the bin, not stuffed dovvn my throat. Comparing myself to a garbage bin, shocks me into stopping my over eating.

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Shrink Yourself

End Emotional Eating

Tip of the Week: You Are Unique

End
Emotional
Eating