If you are one who plays the lottery, odds are pretty good that you do not come from wealth. The lottery is actually a voluntary tax on the poor as the allure of instant riches is terribly powerful for those who have never had long term financial comfort. It is ever so easy to think about having the same problems as rich people. Problems such as deciding which 5 star restaurant to eat at tonight, where to vacation, what luxury car to buy next, and what kind of bling are you going to impress your family and friends with tomorrow. But the problem for most lottery winners is 70 percent of lottery winners end up bankrupt in just a few years after receiving a large financial windfall. Runaway spending, toxic investments and poor accounting can burn through a lucrative windfall in next to no time. From rags to riches then back to rags again.
This problem of rags to riches, and then back to rags is largely because when poor people are presented with large windfalls of cash, they do not live their lives in the same manner as rich people who have always had financial security. The bottom line is, if you want to live like the rich, you have to live with the same mind set that rich people live with.
And this is the truth for those who think they want a fit and trim body too!
You cannot achieve a fit and trim body with the same mindset as you have as one with a weight problem!
Your thinking has to change.
Your way of life has to change.
You have to commit to a change of lifestyle!
With anything less, you are doomed to failure every time you attempt to lose weight.
If we are going to be honest, we have to admit that those who have been obese for several years have the same type of problem as those who have been poor for most of their lives. It is easy to dream about being the opposite of what you may be, but dreaming is not going to bring you a lifetime of success without careful planning and commitment for change. You have to prepare yourself for a change to your social norms. You have to learn to say “NO” to your family and friends. You have to have the courage to accept that others are not going to be quite as accepting of the new you as they were of the old you. Misery loves company and you find family and friends to be like the proverbial crabs who only try to pull you back down into the bucket with them.
You have to give yourself time to adapt to the new you!
We know from personal experience and interaction with our readers and clients that rapid weight loss makes it tough to even get your mind wrapped around your new appearance. At David’s Way to Health and Fitness, we encourage our readers and clients to not attempt to lose more than one to two pounds maximum per week. Your goal should be to think about your plan as a lifestyle, not a diet. A diet is usually temporary in nature, something you go on and then go off of. There is no start and end date to living a healthy, fit and trim life. If you lose weight very quickly, there can be psychological consequences. When you do not give yourself time to settle into your new body shape and weight, it can lead to things like body dysmorphia, anorexia, or bulimia.
Many folks start a diet with an ‘if X, then Y’ mentality. As in, ‘if I lose weight, then I’ll be happy. Or then I’ll find love.”
So, after weight loss, when those things haven’t materialized, it can exaggerate preexisting mental health conditions or further promote body image issues.
There should be a lot of thought and consideration that goes into your weight loss approach. It’s more than just picking up and jumping into the latest fad. You’ll be kinder to yourself if you choose a slower, more progressive route for weight loss.
Never compare yourself to others!
Comparison is the thief of joy.
A person should try and focus on themselves (internally) without comparing themselves to others. For an obese person, dramatic weight loss is primarily about getting to a healthy physical state, and should not lean towards a superficial outcome (which often leads to a perpetual state of disappointment).
A problem for men, is we often see super lean and muscular guys and want to look like these hulks too. The problem is, what we see is often not real. For example, when an actor gets super cut for a movie role, there is more at play than just diet and exercise. Often times, they are also on the performance enhancing drug Trenbolone in order to get super lean and muscular. Trenbolone builds muscle staggeringly fast—even faster than testosterone. It also increases fat burning and strength even more than regular testosterone which is why Hollywood actors like to use it in order to quickly get ready for movie roles. Guys, we cannot get like this naturally, therefore it is foolish to hold this body style up as the standard which you might want to achieve.
Pictured above is a popular Instagram model who has openly advocated for rib removal in order to create a more slender and feminine body.
Yes, you read that right.
She advocates rib removal surgery!
Anterior rib removal is to reduce subcostal protrusions and vertically lengthen the torso.
This is often desired in male to female transgender patients. It is frequently combined with posterior rib removal for waistline narrowing.
The point is not to belittle a transgender individual, the point is you often might not actually know who or what you are wanting to emulate when you are beginning a new lifestyle for health and fitness. That sexy woman you see in the Instagram pictures might actually be a creation of surgical procedures that you will never be capable of becoming. We teach that the best approach for all to take is one where you just be the absolute best that you can be and not hold yourself up to the standards of people you see in various media outlets.
Be realistic in what you want to become!
If you set yourself up with unrealistic expectations, then you are going to fail miserably. First and foremost, your goals and objectives have to be realistic and achievable. With losing weight and creating a healthy body, you have to get your mind wrapped around not only your new looks, but what is going to come with it during your journey to get there.
For example, you might think you want rapid weight loss, but are you prepared for all the loose skin that can come with it?
No matter your personal motivation for weight loss, the benefits of being at a healthy weight are indisputable. But some unexpected changes and challenges rear their ugly heads when you are losing, or have already lost, a significant amount of weight.For many, the psychological adjustments of dramatic weight loss are an intensely emotional experience, and a very personal one at that. Many find themselves thinking;
I wish someone had told me that about losing so much weight.
Realising that losing weight doesn’t necessarily equal happiness: A person may not feel as happy or content as they may have expected. This can come as a shock following dramatic weight loss if a person is not yet mentally prepared for it
Losing weight can make a person feel vulnerable: For an obese person, a larger frame may have provided a degree of emotional protection and a sense that they could ‘hide’ their true selves. Psychologically, it enables a person to feel as though others cannot truly see who they really are. Losing this ‘fleshy protective barrier’ can leave a person feeling somewhat ‘exposed’.
Losing weight casts a spotlight on a person: Adding to feelings of vulnerability, dramatic weight loss can bring about a certain amount of attention from others which may not be all that welcome. Although comments received about the change in physical appearance may be glowing and show approval of the accomplishment, it can make a person feel all the more exposed and vulnerable. Losing such a lot of weight is quite an adjustment, on multiple levels, for the person concerned. Coping with the attention of others in a way that isn’t as familiar at the same time can be challenging, and can sometimes feel a little ‘too personal’ for others to be acknowledging. It can also become emotionally problematic for some people when all of the attention dies down and passing comments no longer happen.
Losing a lot of weight can lead to feelings of anger: When others notice such a dramatic physical change, it can spark a little annoyance or anger. Not all positive remarks will necessarily be flattering. It may be difficult for a person to want to acknowledge the approval of others who never gave them the time of day before, and who are now expressing positive comments or asking how the weight loss was achieved. In learning to cope emotionally with physical changes (outside appearance), it can make a person feel that others are shallow and superficial if they’re only now treating a person positively after they have lost weight. Some people have also experienced negative remarks, commenting that they no longer look ‘healthy’. Counselling can also help a person to understand that others may have trouble getting used to a physically ‘new person’ or assist in dealing with jealousy.
Dramatic weight loss can affect relationships: For those already in relationships, tension can occur if a person’s partner is also overweight or obese. A person going through such a dramatic change may wish the same for their partner which can create obstacles and challenges within the relationship. On the opposite end of things, a partner may experience problems with self-esteem, feel threatened, or worry that temptation to be with another may force the relationship apart. A change in lifestyle habits can also create tension between a couple who used to share certain things together, such as meals or time spent not being active.
Losing a lot of weight can cause intense fear and anxiety: Along with or instead of a sense of accomplishment, a person may become fearful about putting any amount of weight back on once the ultimate goal has been reached. This fear may lead to anxiety and stress over every morsel that is eaten, or cause a person to deprive themselves of food that would give them satisfaction or enjoyment. The pressure to maintain weight loss can become overwhelming if not dealt with appropriately. In extreme cases, constant obsession and restriction can lead to eating disorders if a person is not careful. With the right support on hand a person can learn self-control without feeling that one food related indulgence will place them right back to where they started. (1)
Losing weight and living a healthy life after one of poor health and obesity is a process. You are more than a number on a scale, and you have to understand this, otherwise, you will be seeing yourself in a shattered mirror.
(1) MyMed.com