Obesity is not an easy condition to cope with. If you are obese, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s no fun to have people stare at you when you’re out in public.
It’s depressing when you can’t enjoy playing the sports that other people are involved in, simply because you’re too overweight to participate at any level of competence. It’s humiliating to be refused entrance into a theatre because you are too big to fit into a seat.
However, what I want you to realize here is that what you think is actually one of the main causes of your obesity.
Are you surprised by this? If so, don’t be, allow me to explain what I’m referring to and I’m confident you’ll see my point.
We know for a fact that two of the main causes of obesity are a sedentary lifestyle and eating too much. This article is going to focus on overeating, and particularly what drives people to overeat.
Are you prone to using food as a means of comforting yourself when you’re feel emotional about something? When sad, lonely, discouraged, or even depressed, do you automatically think about and choose to eat?
If you answered yes to the two questions above, then you are actually allowing your thinking to be one of the causes of your obesity.
Just as some people turn to alcohol or drugs as an emotional crutch, there are many people who turn to food in the same manner. I know that you’ve heard people use the term “comfort foods,” in fact you’ve probably used that term yourself. I know that I’ve used the term many times, and there are certain foods that I personally find to be comforting to me; pizza is one of my favorites.
What’s important to note here is that “comfort foods” are often very high in sugar, fat, and calories. I doubt that many people would opt for a plate of celery sticks or a big bowl of salad when they’re feeling down and are trying to make themselves feel better by eating.
The Reason We Need Emotional Crutches
Since I’m not a psychologist, there’s no point in me discussing here the number of different emotional problems people have to face daily, which make them feel the need to turn to food and end up overeating.
But it is true that the majority of people have some sort of crutch they use in order to comfort themselves when they’re feeling emotional about an issue.
A common problem that people deal with which often drives them to overeat is stress.
What method do you personally use to get rid of, or at least deal with stress? Because many people will turn to food, we need to realize that our thinking plays an important role when we’re under stress.
Instead of reaching for food when we feel stressed out, we should STOP and THINK for a moment. This will give us time to come up with a better alternative to dealing with and/or eliminating our stress than reaching for a box of Twinkies.
Instead of allowing our emotions, in this case the stress we are feeling, to control our actions, we need to “count to ten” as it were, and then make a conscious decision to use some other, better, healthier method to deal with our stress.
Can you think of a better, healthier way of dealing with or eliminating stress, than eating an entire pizza by yourself?
Would taking a ten minute break and doing some deep breathing exercises help you?
What about getting out of your office and taking a brisk walk around the block for 20 to 30 minutes?
Why not join a gym and get into the habit of working the stress out of your system with some good aerobics classes or a good workout with the barbells and dumbbells?
Do you have a close friend or even your spouse whom you can call up and just talk to for ten to fifteen minutes about how you’re feeling?
What about just a good ‘ole nap, or for that matter a really good nights sleep, for once. Most of us know that if we’re not getting enough really good sleep we feel more stressed-out than normal.
Are you starting to understand now how the way you think is actually one of the main causes of your obesity?
You THINK that you need food in order to handle your stress. However, when you STOP and THINK, you can come up with all kinds of alternatives to help you deal with, and perhaps even eliminate stress that are healthier and, frankly, much more enjoyable than a carbohydrate and calorie overload.
You know this is true if you’ve had a really good workout. The “high” you get from a workout is better than any food or drug.
If you’ve ever engaged in some deep breathing exercises, then you know how doing so can literally change how you feel, for the better, in a matter of just a few minutes.
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to just talk to someone for ten or fifteen minutes about how you’re feeling, then you know that it can do wonders for you emotionally and even help you to solve perceived problems.
You Can Control One Of The Main Causes Of Obesity
Although you won’t change overnight, you can learn to control one of the main causes of your obesity, your thoughts. If you are determined to STOP and THINK before you reach for your favorite comfort food, you can start to learn how to deal with emotional issues in a more positive and healthier manner. Eating does not have to be the way for you to seek solace.
I know that before you read this article you may not have realized that your thinking was one of the main causes of your obesity. Hopefully, that has now changed and you’re able to clearly see how powerful your thoughts are, and that how you think about dealing with stress and other emotional issues really can make the difference between obese or not.
So, start now to change the way you think about food and dealing with stress or other emotional issues. Instead of reaching for that box of Twinkies, or bowl of ice cream, make a conscious decision to do something healthier and more fun for yourself. Don’t allow your emotions to continue controlling your actions, and you’ll be able to overcome your obesity.
Would you like more information on the causes of obesity? Visit the Big Fat Obesity Blog now and get your Free 12-Step Weight Loss eCourse.