Sorry, You Can’t Fight Fat by Dieting

Body nirvana is a state where your waist size does not define your worth. Believe it or not, but shame, anger, helplessness, loneliness or traumas can act as tiny brakes and make weight loss difficult.

In her new book The Body Nirvana: More Than Just A Weight Loss Book, author and psychologist Garima Gupta urges readers to remember these five facts before embarking on their journey to become fitter and healthier.

FACT 1: YOU DON’T LOSE WEIGHT BY TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT

Think of it like a headache that is trying to tell you about your hyperacidity. I call this singular focus on weight the substitute or ‘dummy obsession’. The real issue may be that you are worried about a heart attack. Dealing directly with the core emotional issue then, is the indirect route to weight loss. For instance, instead of worrying about having a heart attack, it would be more fruitful to work with a cardiologist to assess your risk factors and incorporate healthy practices like meditation, sleep hygiene and relaxation to lower your blood pressure. This will positively affect your weight as well, even though your primary focus is your cardiac health and not losing weight.

FACT 2: YOU MUST LOVE YOURSELF TO LOSE WEIGHT

If you are full of self-rejection but are trying to lose weight, you’re not going to get very far. Do not hate the fat and do not be ashamed of your body. Your brain is almost entirely made up of fat! Choose nourishing food, fun activities and positive thoughts every day because you love yourself. Self-love is a necessary condition for long-term weight loss.

 

FACT 3: YOUR BODY IS NOT A MACHINE

Things that go in do not have a predictable effect or output. How the body reacts depends on a lot of inner factors. A group of a hundred people all exposed together to a cold virus will show different physical reactions: some will fall ill for a week, some will feel low, and others will not react at all. Similarly, a diet or exercise programme does not have the same effect on everyone.

FACT 4: WHAT YOU REALLY HAVE IS A SINGLE MIND–BODY SYSTEM

How you feel determines how you act. This ultimately leads either to success or failure with anything in life, including weight loss. Also, whatever you feel daily becomes a physical reality for the body. Hearts that let go of old grudges get bodies that let go of waste. Minds that turn anger inward burn their body with high acidity; shame creates a stoop; and resentment irritates the skin. Allergies might reflect insecurity. Loathing, rejection and guilt may get concealed between rolls of fat.

FACT 5: DIGESTION IS INFLUENCED BY EMOTIONS

For example, when we are free of stress or are feeling happy, a circuit in the brain called the parasympathetic nervous system gets activated. This nerve circuit is also called the ‘feed-and-breed system’. Its role is to improve digestion, absorption of nutrients, and release of energy. In addition to the feed-and-breed system, the relaxed feelings trigger the release of certain chemicals, including hormones, in the blood. These chemicals, along with the nerves, talk to the stomach and intestines. These respond with release of digestive juices and other important chemicals like insulin, which helps cells get energy.

You can get your copy of the book here: http://amzn.to/2p6GRQN