Comments on: The Psychology of Weight-Loss

By: Martha

Martha — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:36:25 +0000

Sound advice. Every time I CAN make decisions and execute them, I do, and lose some more weight. Drop 2 or 5 pounds now and then over time. Currently down 25. However (here come what sounds like an excuse but I think is a medical problem), Sometimes my thinking becomes, well, ah, flaky. The ability to sustain a thought or feeling leaves. Everythin, not just eating right and exercising, become more difficult and flaky. Then some brain chemical shift happens when I force myself back to certain, specific behaviors: get out in the sun, drink more water, don’t use artificual sugars, oxegenate the blood by moving more (I walk). Then I do better. I first noticed the ability TO MAKE DECISIONS and carry them out was a brain chemistry thing when I tried phen-fen. It made it easy to make decisions. I remember thinking — so this is what people are talking about when they say they can diet and lose weight whenever they want. I wish I knew more about the brain chemistry of decision making. I had to infer it. Anyway, for those of you stuck being unable to make the decision to give up bad foods and exercise more, I suggest you work first at changing your brain chemistry by getting out in the sun, drinking more water, stopping the artificial sugars, and taking a little walk. It all becomes more possible when you start with these small things. Each time I find myself being flaky it’s because I’ve forgotten to do these easy basics. Gardening season’s coming up! More sun and shoveling!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:45:47 +0000

hey craig!
I love reading things like you have written here … I think that motivation does peak so when my motivation is low I read a motivation site and before you know it im on the treadmill running longer than the day before … i have also found that if you open a calendar and each day write good if you ate well and did a day of good exercise after say two or three weeks when the excuses start you look at all the goods written and feel really disappoint in yourself if you write a bad so you usually wont let it happen again that week!

By: Hamoyello

Hamoyello — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:07:16 +0000

all the comments are inspirational, thought provoking and helpful
hi Craig,
Eye opening common sense . thanx may i add-
while you are trying to keep your head in the positive gear needed.
i found that for words ‘commitment’ and ‘motivation’ i just replace with ‘ not negotiable’ or unacceptable. would you just decide keep your poor adherence record to dieting or “gyming” to other aspects of your life? ie: work, social events, child rearing
i venture to guess no, it is ‘ not negotiable’ or unacceptable it just has to be done.the same logic to whatever plan chosen for weight loss.
from an in-process ex yo yo dieting delinquent “gymer”

By: megan

megan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:05:49 +0000

Hi Craig,
As part of a commumity fit group, we often discuss motivation and how you have to be in the right head space to see results. As you have said you have to have goals and the goal has to be important enough to you to want to succeed. Once you have reached it then another is needed. Motivation is something that comes and goes and it difficult to keep it up all the time. We also think that there is often a lot of emotional baggage/past experiences that have shaped our personalities that you also have to get past. If trainers and weight loss programs were qualified or dealt with these deeper issues, people would be much more successful in their weight loss and fitness journeys. I know I have issues that cause me to have lapses and sabotage my successes but I have found that every support network/weight loss program is telling me what I already know about how to lose weight but I need something more.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:31:28 +0000

Actually, I’m quite curious… one year later, I wonder what progress these previous posters have made? Would be interesting to know if they accomplished their goals. Well… thanks again!

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:28:58 +0000

Wow, awesome article! The bit about continuing even when you’re not motivated really struck a chord with me, since that’s where I always fall down. If I don’t want to do it, I won’t. Hopefully I will be able to turn that around.
And… I just realised I’m commenting on this over a year later than everyone else, so I don’t know if you’re going to read this or not. I just wanted to say that this is a really great article, and thanks for writing it!

By: Craig Harper

Craig Harper — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:23:00 +0000

Go Neicy1 – I’ll be looking for those updates. Cheers…

By: neicy1

neicy1 — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:18:00 +0000

Hi Craig
I have 50kg to lose and cant get my head right to do it. I came on here and typed in weight loss motivation and you came up (thank god). I had lost 35kg’s but ive put 15 back on and im scared im going to have to start from scratch. What you wrote was dead right and ive always said when you have kids you lose the right to self sabotage but thats what im doing every day and i dont want my kids to be at my funeral thinking they werent worth me doing this. My problem is not food its wine. i dont crave it but when im down i depend on it and it causes my weight to go up which makes me feel down. i know all this and i am desperate to change it and after going on to your site i really feel i will. I am fixing this as of tomorrow and i do realise you have alot of people coming in here but i will let you know every few weeks how im going. My start weight is 130kg’s even after losing what i have so im a time bomb waiting to go off. thank you.

By: neicy

neicy — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:04:00 +0000

Hi Craig.
I have 50kg’s to lose and i came on here tonight and typed in weight loss motivation and you came up. i’ve already lost 25kg’s but cant get my head right to restart it. Ive always said when you have kids you lose the right to self sabotage but thats what im doing and I dont want my kids to be at my funeral thinking they werent worth me doing this. I know you have alot of people on here but im going to keep you posted on how i go. My start weight is 130kg so wish me luck ill be in about every 2 weeks. thank you

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 18:41:00 +0000

I stumbled onto this site by “amazing accident”… I have recommended it to 3 other people. You have discovered what a friend of mine did who’s lost over 100# all by herself.She didn’t have surgery, take pills, join a weight loss group. She was tired of never having enough energy and decided it was time to change… so she changed her head, and in the process the way she relates to food and exercise. She looks fabulous now and the confidence she’s gained is spilling over into a more successful career too. Keep blogging, you have more impact than you will ever know!