WEEK FIVE WEIGH-IN RESULTS
10TH FEBRUARY 2020

I am so pleased week five is over! Disappointingly, I’ve had my first weight gain since tracking my weight this year. Today, at my week five weigh-in the scales are reading 336.2 pounds, which is a 4.4 pound gain. Urgh! ?♀️
This week I’m going to write a quick post because I’m up to my eyeballs in paint! I’m decorating my living room, which has presented me with one nightmare after another. Why is nothing ever as straightforward as whacking up a new lick of paint!
Throwing all my attention into the house has left me with no time to plan food, and I have let healthy eating go out the window. I also have some serious anxiety about cooking food in a kitchen that is constantly full of decorating dust.
There’s been lots of cheese sandwiches, beans on toast, a takeaway and a McDonalds. Not exactly real food. I don’t think I’ve eaten one vegetable this whole week! And, it shows.
Despite my lack of time and disappointing weight in, I still wanted to write this Week Five Weigh-In entry because I’ve made a commitment to myself to do it.
It’s clear that excuses have started to creep their way back in over the last couple of weeks. Recognising this, I have started going back to therapy for a little extra support.
CAN THERAPY HELP ME LOSE WEIGHT?
Everyone is different, but I cannot emphasise enough how helpful I find a good therapy session.
Trying to lose weight is not just about the food we consume or the exercise we do. A considerable part of it is all down to mindset. When you’re naturally a ‘glass half empty‘ kinda gal, getting into that positive mindset is a real challenge. And, it’s especially tricky to sustain positivity over a long period.
Positivity is linked to the right attitude, strong willpower and staying motivated. All the things you hear so much about when you are on a weight loss journey. And, all things that play a big part when it comes to weight loss success.
When I’m overwhelmed, a negative mindset consumes me. During those times, I so desperately want to return to my old eating habits. This means I’m eating food that I know is not good for my health and wellbeing due to massive overconsumption. And over the years, I’ve needed to consume more, more frequently to lift my mood. This is not ‘a little of what you fancy, does you good‘ situation.
When I want to binge, I will always choose chocolate, sweets and takeaways, despite how much I enjoy eating real food. Bizarre, huh! But in the moment, I tell myself that it’s only processed foods that can provide me with the instant gratification, comfort and relief I need.
I am acutely aware that these foods are also, for the most part, the cause of my obesity and a deeply ingrained hatred of myself. You see, being overweight and failing to lose weight has had an enormous impact on my self-esteem and has often made me feel completely worthless.
This is where I find therapy helpful.
Talking to a therapist enables me to process my thoughts and emotions rather than suppress them. It gives me the tools I need to sit with the discomfort of cravings and know that it WILL pass eventually. Therapy addresses my distorted beliefs about food and challenges my all or nothing mentality.
Although therapy is certainly not a cure, when I have actively participated in therapy sessions in the past, I have seen more consistent weight loss. I’m shown techniques that I can practice to help me to take back control in moments of weakness. Invaluable. Notably at times like now, where I am clearly struggling.
Thank you so much for dropping by today. I hope you’ve found this post useful. And, to anyone out there who has seen results with therapy, or not as the case may be, whatever your story, drop me a note, I’d love to hear from you.

P.S. If you think you would benefit from therapy, it is well worth speaking to your doctor before you pay for a private service. They may be able to provide you with help on the NHS or at the very least, make a good recommendation.
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