Understanding your Emotions around Food and Lifestyle

Many people put on weight due to fluctuating blood sugars through the day and binge eating after a stressful day at work. Some people only gain weight after Christmas from lazy eating and that's fine; however, many people experience health and weight issues as a result of more deep seated emotional issues.

You might find that events from your past that you had not given much thought to before could well be preventing you from achieving the healthy body you want because of the ‘RULES’ you have created around food and exercise. If you believe you may have unresolved issues from your past that are sabotaging your success at becoming healthier and happier, it may be useful to do a few exercises to explore this idea.

Just becoming aware of your beliefs about food, alcohol and exercise may well change your whole perspective around the subject. These exercises are designed to identify some of the beliefs you may have.

So, where do our ‘RULES’ come from?
We are what we eat. We are also what we think and believe and I believe our only limits are self imposed. Our beliefs are like on/off switches in out brain. If you believe you won't get healthy and won't lose weight, you won’t; if you believe you will, you will.

If you were to gather up all your beliefs that you hold about your self and the world as you see it, it would add up to your own personal ‘Rule Book’. The most important thing to learn about all these rules is that they are not based on ‘fact’.

Most of our beliefs are created at a very young age between 0 - 7 years, coming from parents, siblings, teachers, friends, religions and others significant people and events during that age. Most of us do not consciously decide what we believe in and once we have a belief it becomes our reality. That is scary.

What we forget is that beliefs can be changed.

There is a way you can overturn any negative belief no matter how long you have had it for and turn it into a positive, empowering one that will ultimately help you achieve your goals.

Your Personal Myths
Lets look at your personal myths about your current body shape and state of health. We are interested in the negative ones that are likely to have lead you to being out of the shape you would prefer and have kept you stuck where you are.

Examples may include

• I don’t deserve to lose weight
• My metabolism is to low
• Diets don’t work for me
• Everyone in my family is over weight so it is inevitable I will be as well. 
• It gets harder to lose weight during mid life or as you get older
• I am big boned
• I can’t lose weight no matter what I do 
• Being fat is in my genes
• It is to expensive to eat healthily.

List your own personal beliefs

Now let's identify some of the ‘Lifestyle Barriers’ by filling in the rest of the sentence.

I don’t have the body I want because …..

Examples may include

• I am too lazy
• I am useless at the gym 
• I am rubbish at everything I do
• I enjoy the wrong foods
• I drink too much
• I hate exercise
• I’ve got no will power
• I am easily lead by others.

I don’t have the body I want because …..

What have you learnt about yourself?
When you read back your myths, viruses, and things you believe to be true, you may notice how they now appear to be excuses that simply have been holding you back from becoming the person you want to be. Just imagine for a moment if none of these statements were true for you; what difference would that make to you in your aim to becoming a healthier happier person?

That's right - there would be nothing standing in your way.

Well, I have news for you; none of your myths or personal beliefs are true! In order to change your future we need to identify the events or situations from your past that may have lead to these negative beliefs.

Because, once these have been removed, we can re-program your brain so you can let go of all of these excuses and take responsibility for what you want in your life.