Although every dieter knows that keeping food records is a key to permanent weight loss, few understand the importance of also keeping an "emotional journal." In fact, one dieter lost 100 pounds, thanks in part to the insights gained through daily journaling.
Dieting for weight loss can be as simple as keeping that food diary, or (the more challenging) dipping into the dark waters of the psyche. For example, which emotions motivate, sabotage, side-track, or inspire? Which people are supportive, which ones undermine your focus with snide remarks or constant invitations to ice cream? All will be revealed inside your private journal.
Of all the journal exercises for gaining insight, a favorite is the "Letter to My Body." In this exercise, the dieter actually pens a letter to self, being as honest as possible. A sample might be "Dear Fat Body, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. I hate your rolls of fat on me, I hate that my knees hurt, I hate that you'd rather have a Danish than let me feel good about myself. I hate that you've been good all day and I know that tonight you'll be a pig."
What does that type of letter accomplish? For many-instead of adding to an already huge portion of self-loathing-it provides a powerful way of recognizing and reversing trigger situations. In this example, when nighttime does come and the journaler heads for the pint of Ben and Jerry's, there's a good chance the letter will be remembered. And, an even better chance that instead of eating a pint, some or none will be chosen.
Journaling to lose weight also involves writing about how your food choices will make you feel tomorrow when you get on the scale, or when you sit down to journal again. And, as you write these letters to self, you'll quickly begin to connect the dots, and track the ways in which everyday life impacts your food choices.
Keeping a journal will also help with weight loss because it's almost impossible to get to know yourself on a deep, intimate level and then continue with self-destructive behavior. Fortunately, we're just not made that way.
So tonight, instead of settling in with a pizza and beer, take some time to write a letter to yourself and analyze what your hunger is really about. I guarantee you, it isn't food.
Patti Testerman is content manager at http://JournalGenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Want to discover self-defeating patterns, or find better ways to communicate in a relationship? Check out our site.
Because the Internet allows so many millions of people to... Read More
Everyone from politicians to parents is talking about fighting the... Read More
In the old West tricksters sold a snake oil to... Read More
When you truly consider the weight-loss process, the battle waged... Read More
"I tried that diet and lost 8 pounds in the... Read More
My name is Greg Ryan. I am a best selling... Read More
Healthy living begins with healthy eating and healthy eating begins... Read More
If you're a low carb diet enthusiast, you've probably tried... Read More
As if you needed another reason to hit the snooze... Read More
The only absolute truth in the area of exercise and... Read More
"I've put on 40 pounds in one year!" "It doesn't... Read More
Losing weight and keeping it off is much more than... Read More
It's always great to find a protein supplement with very... Read More
Everybody you know is on the latest weight loss bandwagon:... Read More
My last article, Make Diets Work, concluded that dieting the... Read More
I have put off writing a motivation article because of... Read More
For many years, the experts, including our government have been... Read More
It's been called the world's oldest medicine, the miracle fat... Read More
Causes of ObesityJust like there is no weight loss pill... Read More
Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.Take... Read More
Once upon a time, I fretted about going to a... Read More
There are certain eating habits that can make you gain... Read More
Ah the ever present battle to lose those unwanted pounds.... Read More
Weight Loss ? Basic Lessons for Sustained SuccessWeight loss is... Read More
Weight loss is never easy. Although this is stating the... Read More
can't open file for w /hsphere/local/home/sasha/casapolis.co/tools/neptun/temp/max14separatorstylefontsize10pxcolorblackfontfamilyverdanatextdecorationnone.htmlNo One I Know Looks Like a Bathing Beauty, so... Read More
Ok... If you are reading this is because you do... Read More
"Life would be perfect if only I was thin." That... Read More
If you're a low carb diet enthusiast, you've probably tried... Read More
Losing weight is a struggle that many of us face... Read More
When most people begin a Weight Loss program or diet... Read More
REDUCE YOUR WEIGHTNow you are not very far from losing... Read More
Although all of the risks involved in gastric bypass surgery... Read More
Considering the US Center for Disease Control's advice is a... Read More
A state of emergency has been recently put on European... Read More
If you want to find a way to lose weight... Read More
A diet may be a fad diet or a healthy... Read More
Negative thoughts, symbolic protection, being who we really are ........ Read More
My name is Greg Ryan. I am a high profile... Read More
There is no such thing as spot reducing. Any fat... Read More
The cost of gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric surgical... Read More
A bad day or even a bad week is not... Read More
Any doctor worth their salt will tell you diets don't... Read More
Ever thought of, known someone, or gone on a diet?... Read More
--ONE--Learn how to reduce the fat, sugar and salt content... Read More
Put simply, your resting metabolic rate is the minimum number... Read More
How's this for a diet: Take in fewer calories than... Read More
The Atkins low-carb diet consists of four phases: Induction, Ongoing... Read More
After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get... Read More
Do you know the name of that one disease which... Read More
Weight Loss Weight Loss |