Problem vs Symptom
Let's start this blog with one of my favourite quotes by Wayne Dyer:
"When you change the way you look at things the things you look at change"
With that quote in mind this blog post is going to look at weight loss from a different perspective to give you ideas on where you can begin to make changes that lead to permanent goal attainment. Instead of focusing on your weight as a (the?) problem let's try and look at it in terms of it being a symptom.
Looking at excess weight as being a symptom rather than the problem helps us to create a space where we can begin to explore the possible contributing factors that create and sustain the "problem". These contributing factors could include:
Lifestyle related habits - such as how much movement you get each day, how often you do structure physical activity (the type and quality of this activity also plays a part) and your sleep/wake habits/patterns also have a profound effect of your ability to achieve your goals.
Food choices/habits - are your food choices helpful or unhelpful? The type of food or drink, food portions and meal timing can make or break your fat loss goals.
Psychological and or emotional issues - such as general level of life stress, how you deal with this life stress, anxiety or depression issues, and the quality of your relationships (spouse, kids, family and friends) can all influence the choices and actions you make in either a helpful or unhelpful way.
Hormonal issues and or imbalances and other medical conditions - such as but not limited to insulin resistance, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, pre-menopausal, post-menopausal, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and some medications can all affect your ability to lose body fat.
Quite often these issues are not separate and unto themselves (sometimes they are) they can be interconnected and related to one, two or maybe more other issues but it's the act of looking at these issues rather than just the number on the scale where more meaningful and longer lasting results emerge. Sometimes it takes time to unravel the symptoms to a point where you can clearly work through them and sometimes it even takes courage to work through them but every time it's always worth the effort of doing so!
I hope this little blog gives you an insight into the possible contributing factors that may be at play in your own weight loss journey, everyone is different, everyone has their own set of symptoms to work through. By looking at your 'problem' differently you just may uncover the answer that you're looking for.
Until next time. Rethink. Redefine. Evolve.
