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Weight Loss - Can Fears Hold You Back?

Posted on Mar 31st 2009 11:00AM by Maggie Vink

Filed Under: Your Turn, Diet & Weight Loss

Here at "That's Fit," we're constantly telling you what we think about things, but sometimes it's nice to know what you think. So from time to time, we'll ask you a question. Don't be afraid to speak up -- we love feedback.

To lose weight, you just have to burn fewer calories than you consume, right? Technically, that may be true, but the reality is far more complex. For many people, emotional eating, self-esteem issues and other problems play a role in their weight, too.

Take Jenna Vaught, Miss America Plus Elite 2007, for example. Vaught changed her eating habits and exercised to lose weight, yet she said "the real key to losing weight was finding myself and asking the hard questions." And Shauna Reid had to get past her insecurities and fear of being judged in order to lose half her body weight.

Do you think fears or insecurities contribute to weight gain?
Yes. Emotional eating is a big part of weight gain, and the underlying issues have to be dealt with to lose/keep off weight.	51 (66.2%)
No. Not exercising enough and eating too much are the causes of weight gain.	9 (11.7%)
Maybe. Some people might turn to food for emotional reasons, but that shouldn't keep them from maintaining a healthy weight.	17 (22.1%)

Do you think you have any fears that have hindered weight loss?

3 Comment

Tags: emotion, fear, fears, weight-loss, your-turn

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

dirt 3-31-2009 @ 2:00PM

Yes, emotional issues play into weight issues significantly. Example: I started out just saying I wanted to lose weight. I got really excited when I realized I was actually toning down, but when the progress wasn't so good, I beat myself up about it, feeling like a failure, etc. That made me step back and reevaluate my reasons for wanting to lose weight. I realize now that health is not just about being skinny and looking hot. It's more of a struggle to make peace with my body and get comfortable living in my own skin.

u262f 3-31-2009 @ 3:59PM

I think the weight problem is in people's heads in general, whether it's "emotional eating", "mindless eating", attitudes against "rabbit food", or simply lack of understanding. We've been sold a pack of lies and oversimplifications from food companies and even well-intentioned government agencies, and recent studies have been showing that we might've been gaining weight because we ate up all that misinformation.

Fred Smilek 4-01-2009 @ 1:04PM

People usually either tend to eat too much or too little when dealing with personal issues.

The Society to Save Endangered Species was formed by Fred Smilek and two of his colleagues; Charlie Mack & Jonathan Korny. Fred Smilek stays active in raising awareness for this cause. [www.fredjsmilek.com]