Friday, May 29, 2009

The Key to Weight Maintenance?

The key to maintaining your weight? Keep doing everything you did while you were releasing weight.

We get there and then we let down. We become less vigilant in our choices. We become more casual in our efforts. We go a little soft on our desires. And we become less committed and less focussed on our goals because we’ve hit that magic number. Then the weight starts to creep back on, and the number on the scale starts to edge up. Why? Because we revert back to our old ways of doing things, and more profoundly, we revert back to our old ways of thinking. We look at “losing” weight as something that we’ll do for a while, until we get what we want, and then we’ll be through with the struggle once and for all. And when we get to where we think we want to be, we may forget that it’s a continuing journey, a journey with no destination. . .

In my opinion, the crux of pleasurable weight release and pleasurable weight maintenance is being highly aware of what you think, being very sensitive to how you talk to yourself, and being hyper-vigilant about what you say to yourself when you look in the mirror.

What is important is what you tell yourself about your worthiness and your deservingness. And then be committed to that outcome every single day. Renew that commitment every morning as you get out of bed, make coffee, brush your teeth, and progress through your day.

Please note that I’m not using the words “will power.” Pleasurable weight release has nothing to do with will power! Pleasurable weight release is not about forcing and mandating and disciplining and punishing yourself when you fall off the wagon. Pleasurable weight release is about committing yourself, each day, to answering this question: “What will bring me the most pleasure?”

When we consider what will bring us pleasure, then we start to move in the direction of pleasure. And moving toward something fun (releasing and maintaining a healthful weight) is a lot more satisfying than moving away from something that’s painful (misery and self-loathing).

The key to maintaining a healthful weight? Keep infusing your thinking and behavior with pleasure and love! And keep asking and answering the question, “What will bring me the most pleasure?”




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Lincoln, NE
Kristin Heslop, DMA, has gained and lost over a thousand pounds throughout her life. A musician by trade and training, Dr. Heslop attended Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. She holds a Master of Music degree from Wichita State University, and a doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Heslop has taught at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Concordia University, Union College, Wichita State University, and Enterprise Academy. She has performed on the flute, piano, harpsichord, and organ throughout the Midwest. In addition to music she derives great pleasure from political and environmental activism, creating visual art, and hearing her cat Lukas purr.