Weight Gain
       Being overweight is a problem that causes many of us a great deal of anxiety. If we are not happy with our overall appearance, looks and health then there is no possible way that we can be happy in our overall lives.

       Many over-weight people find it difficult to maneuver, extremely uncomfortable in warmer weather, and are particularly susceptible to the ridicule and bullying of those who are fitter and healthier. This then leads to low self-esteem and self-confidence, which contributes to weight gain because many of us will seek to comfort our insecurities by way of food, also termed emotional eating.

Here's a Typical Situation I'll Use As An Example:
       Jimmy had always been larger than the other children but as he grew he became even bigger, in size and shape, and it was not long before he became the source of a great deal of jokes. Saddened by the other children’s need to make fun of him, Jimmy continued to eat out of depression and because he figured, why not?" With eating also came comfort because when his stomach was full he felt content.
 
      As days, turned into months, and then years, Jimmy's size continued to grow and he began to find that his life was restricted, he was unable to walk very far without finding breathing difficult and he was concerned about his health, and loosing his ability to do the things he loved. Jimmy knew he needed to break the cycle, and change his life or he risked loosing a great deal more than he was willing to part with.

How can Jimmy and others like him relieve their stress and break the over-eating/over-weight cycle?

The Solution
       Talk to others about your concerns and construct a support group that will enable you to re-build your self-esteem and confidence. In other words, find an accountability partener and allow them to hold you to your promise of losing weight beginning today! Learn to balance your lifestyle with a healthy calorie managed diet and a regular exercise program, as both will minimize undue stress on you physically and mentally. You need to start buring more calories than you are consuming. This is called a caloric deficit. Weight loss is not rocket science; become more aware of what you're eating and how many caloires are in the food you eat and burn those calories by getting adequate exercise.

Tip:
       When first starting to control your weight gain set yourself realistic goals and remember that the weight you have gained will take you time to lose, therefore, be patient and consistent in your efforts. And, if you miss one day of exercise or over-eat start your plan again the following day.

For Example- Jimmy's family helped him set-up a daily exercise program and watched his diet as rigorously as he did, giving him praise when he reached the small milestones he had set for himself. This built Jimmy’s self-confidence and he soon began to feel much healthier.

Best of Luck!

James Villepigue CSCS