Last spring I experienced a weight gain crisis.
No, it didn’t happen all at once but I found myself heavier than I had ever been with serious health issues lurking because of it. I knew what I needed to do.
I know the most natural, easy way of dropping excess weight when it comes to the eating part. I even know the exercise part. It was the emotional and mindset part that needed major work.
Weight loss has so much to do with emotional and mindset issues. Even within that I give the emotional priority over the mindset but they’re very closely linked.
We stuff our emotions that then get stuck inside our bodies often perpetuating a downward spiral. It shows up in health issues, berating self-talk, sabotaging behavior, and on and on. Then we soothe our feelings by stuffing our bodies with more food which equals more weight gain and a host of other things. Aaarrrgghhh!! It’s time to stop!! Don’t you think? It was for me!
Besides the natural eating and exercise program I put myself on, the following is a sample of
emotional and mindset activities I did:
1. WHY: You have to have a serious why. We all want to look good but that just isn’t strong enough. For me it had to do with being healthy for my family in the moment and in years to come. I created power statements, thoughts, visions, and feelings around my why.
2. EMOTIONAL RELEASE: I used powerful emotional releasing techniques to dig out the root of the problem one of which was EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique. This was a huge part of my process particularly at the beginning along with several other techniques.
3. MINDSET: I set weekly weight loss goals rather than focus on the big picture. That was so helpful. I would picture the 2-pound weight loss on the scale in my mind. All week I would tell myself that I weighed that much. Example: if I were at 145 and the goal was 142, I would see 142 on the scale in my mind and say, “I weigh 142 pounds”. Then I would imagine how it would feel to reach the goal. I set my mind on the end result. If fear or negative thinking popped up I made myself stop by saying something like, “That was once true for me but it is no longer true for me now.” I would be very specific in the statement and would speak my new truth.
People ask me all the time I how lost the weight. It’s not something that I can explain in a simple sentence or two. People assume it was all about how I ate. Sure that played a significant role but it was so much more than that.
Let me add that I had been trying for years to lose weight with just eating and exercising right. It didn’t work! When I applied all the different techniques, the weight seemed to melt off. To my great surprise it wasn’t hard. It was and continues to be an awesome journey. I say continues because I’m maintaining my ideal size practically effortlessly. I didn’t and still don’t feel deprived. And, one of the coolest things is that food no longer has an emotional grip on me. I now have a good relationship with food! That is an awesome miracle!!
Currently I am 27 pounds lighter than I was last July when my weight peaked an all time high. The after pictures posted here reflect 20 pounds that was discarded within 3 months. I am at my ideal size, which I am pleased as punch with. However, there is still work to be done. My body fat percent is obviously lower but still needs to be less than what it is to give me a stronger, healthier body. Soon I will be gearing up for that challenge. This is a must if I plan to fulfill the secret dream I mentioned in my post Telling Secrets. =)
My weight loss experience was the catalyst for all that I’m doing now. I knew that if I could use the emotional and mindset techniques for losing weight I could use them in other areas of my life. I knew there were great things ahead of me.
As Pamela Peeke author of “Body for Life for Women” says, “When a woman’s mind, body, and spirit unite, miracles happen. Her transformation is a gift that keeps on giving.”
That’s exactly where I am!
Do you struggle with weight loss issues? Is your authentic beauty trapped within excess weight? Would you like to become the gift that keeps on giving?
I encourage you to comment your thoughts, your feelings. I welcome your emails too! God bless you in your journey!!
This is a terrific motivational Blog post. I especially am thankful for the link to EFT site. Here’s to your continued success.
I follow you on twitter. I’m kimi267.
Kimi
Hi Shileen… That is FANTASTIC!!! Great job!! Keep up the good work.
Your twitterbud… Jim
Absolutely inspiring and every word rings true!
Awesome post and it is so inspiring to hear your story. Weight loss is definitely something I struggle with, and am working on at this moment in time.
Fantastic work, Shileen. You’ve come a long way in more ways than one.
If you want to make it up on stage one day, lifting weights–heavy ones–is the way to go. Nothing will transform your body the way pumping iron will.
Thanks to all of you!
Kimi, you will find EFT so helpful. Just give yourself time to learn and don’t be afraid to experiment.
LaTara and Heather, thank you so much. The only way I was willing to post those pictures was with hope and prayer that they would motivate and inspire.
Jim, thanks! I always appreciate your support and care.
Maureen, I do lift weights but, yes, I know that I will have to seriously change my game and step it up. It will come … for sure! =)
Thanks for sharing with us, Shileen! You are doing a wonderful job! I would love to lose some pounds for health reasons. I’m headed over to check out the EFT site.
Keep up the Great Work!!
I am so proud of you hun! I agree that it is just not a physical point to loose weight there is the mindset.
Keep up the great work! I look forward to your posts!
Shileen, stop over at my blog…I have something for you.
http://mamasonlinecafe.blogspot.com
Hi Shileen,
Thank you for such an inspirational and motivating message.
I’m a firm believer in using positive self-talk to help reach your goals, but still find myself at times slipping into the “berating self-talk”.
There are a couple of areas in my life right now where I need to change my mindset to change the situation, your post has given me the motivation to do so.
{{hugs}}
Sharon McPherson
@SharonMcP
Shileen,
You rock! You are truly an inspiration and it’s a joy to be in your company, even if it is just virtually.
I’ve been struggling with weight issues for years now, so your post is exactly what I needed to hear. I’d thought about trying EFT but never really seriously, so will be checking that out today.
I’m using your mindset example as well, and already this morning am feeling thinner and sexier than I have in a very long time. I’ve still got a long ways to go, but at 2 lbs a week I’ll reach my goal in time for Christmas
Thanks for sharing your story!
Luv ya,
Lena
The best part of the site is that I had no idea that you were going through things. I think that too often “no news is good news” and we need to take the time to say, ‘hey, what’s for dinner at your house tonight?’
As we share stories of frozen corn and leftover meatloaf, we see what daily life challenges come our way and maybe that little phone call is a hug.
Thanks for posting lows and highs because that is my biggest challenge. The good news is that a neighbor asked me to walk 3 times a week and I see how wonderful I feel when I take 30 minutes outside in the morning for myself.
Nobody benefits but me, so sometimes I feel like I don’t have time, but hey, it’s at 5:30, so what else am I doing then? The energy from starting the day caring for my physical needs adds some spark to my other needs.
I sure do love the energy from being positive gives. Too much negativity flows through my brain and just makes a bunch of sewage back-up!!
Thank you for your honesty!
[...] What about the role of our mindsets in weightloss? A good twitter friend, Shileen Nixen, has an excellent testimony of how she was able to conquer her weight problem once she faced the fact that “it was the emotional and mindset part that needed major work”. See here article: Weight Loss Weigh More Than a Diet [...]
Although I am in really good shape, being a Taekwondo instructor. I got back into shape without loosing mass first over five years ago. Therefore I turned what I had into muscle etc. At 150 pounds I am starting to feel my mass and it’s too heavy for my smaller frame. As of this year, my husband and I are focusing on getting lean. We have been running together. It’s really hard, much more than when I was in my 20′s. UGH! But we are nearly forty and need to get our bodies strong for the next phase of our lives. Thanks for the challenge!
Shileen – thanks for the courage to share your story with us! It is truly inspiring and a good reminder how very important it is for women to focus on the emotional/mental connection to their bodies! You’re a very good example of whats available if you spend time on working on the sabotaging self talk that can get in the way of creating change…..looking forward to learning more about EFT as well!
Hi Shileen,
I am where you were before you started losing weight. The weight has been creeping on, and I feel more anxiety about it so I eat more. It’s a vicious cycle. I find your blog very encouraging. A friend of mine told me about EFT, but I’ve yet to look into it. I will now, though. Thanks for sharing your story with us. May you continue to walk in good health.
From one sister to another!
[...] Stay tuned for more information about the 90 Day Challenge! Other related posts: Weight-Loss: Weigh More Than A Diet [...]
[...] For more information click here => 90 Day Challenge Other related Posts: Weight Loss Dreams to Reality Weight Loss: Weigh More Than A Diet [...]
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[...] You can read the whole story with before and after pictures here => Weigh More Than A Diet [...]