Can Psychology Really Help With Fat Loss?
In theory, fat loss should be easy. All you really need to do is burn off more energy each day than you get from the food you eat. It sounds simple, but as anyone who has struggled with dieting knows, it is a much more complicated process than that. Some experts claim that you should concentrate on eliminating fat from your diet, which might sound appealing to folks who think that low-fat should equal fat loss. Another whole school of thought follows the theory that cutting out sugar and other carbohydrates by eating a low- carb diet will do the trick. Still other fitness experts recommend intense exercise many times a week, or subsisting on protein shakes and meal replacement bars. And there is no shortage of crazy fad diets that grab the attention of people from time to time. These promise that miracles can happen if you consume such things as grapefruit or apple cider vinegar.
But what about the mental part of weight loss? Most dieters will say that while many different eating plans are capable of helping them reduce pounds and inches, the problems come with aspects of dieting such as maintaining focus, staying motivated, and exercising willpower. This is another area that is overflowing with experts that claim to be able to help with the psychological parts of fat loss. What follows is a look at some of the better-known specialists in this field, and an evaluation of the necessity of including psychology in a weight loss plan.
Dr. Phil
Dr. Phil McGraw became a household name in the early 2000’s as a regular guest on the Oprah Winfrey show. His background as a medical psychologist and his no-nonsense way of talking made him popular enough that he was able to start his own show within a few years. He helps people take control of their lives and “get real” in many areas, including weight loss.
When his book The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution came out in 2003, it became an instant bestseller. It focuses much more on finding the reasons that you have a weight problem and dealing with them rather than on spelling out an exact dietary plan. Dr. Phil gives seven steps for eliminating your internal obstacles to fat loss. They include such things as “Right Thinking,” “Healing Feelings,” and “Creating a No-Fail Environment.” His theory is that people who struggle with their weight, whether they are dangerously thin or morbidly obese, are somehow sabotaging their own attempts at controlling their food intake.
While this book may be helpful to those who have tried countless diets without success, it does not do much to help people choose an eating plan. But, if you think there is an emotional aspect to your eating, you may be interesting in seeing what Dr. Phil has to say.
Dr. Judith Beck
Dr. Beck takes a somewhat similar approach to Dr. Phil in her books. As a trained Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, she believes that healthy eating is something that can be learned just like any other skill such as using a computer, or dancing the tango. Her first book has the tantalizing title The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person. It tells of the successes she has had treating her overweight patients with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
The book’s premise is that other diets require their followers to spend much of their time thinking about food in all its forms. They must shop for, weigh, measure, and prepare their food in such precise ways that the whole process becomes a big burden. Dr. Beck attempts to teach her readers ways to combat this by overcoming negative thoughts and self-imposed obstacles. She says that any healthy diet will help to achieve fat loss goals, but that the thought processes that accompany it are the real keys to success.
Dr. Beck offers no meal plans, recipes, or menus at all. She lets her readers decide which eating plan they will follow, while suggesting ways of coping with the frustrations of dieting. If you tend to be a yo-yo dieter, or think that you are subconsciously holding yourself back from reaching your goals, this book may be of interest.
Dr. Susan Albers
In her book, Eating Mindfully, Dr. Susan Albers uses some cognitive behavioral techniques like Judith Beck advocates, but she mixes in a rather large dose of Buddhist practices, as well. As a specialist in treating eating disorders, Dr. Albers says that it is important for dieters to examine the reasons that they eat mindlessly. She talks about patients who react to stress, depression, loneliness, anger or any other extreme emotion by giving in to a strong urge to eat. Such senseless consumption is usually an attempt to soothe or comfort oneself, by using food as a kind of medication. In the doctor's view, taking some concrete steps before you eat anything can break this habit.
Dr. Albers advises her readers to use some concepts found in the Buddhist religion that will help them learn to listen to their bodies and make more informed and rational choices about what they eat. She says that dieters who have more self-awareness will develop a healthier relationship with food, and therefore will learn to eat for nourishment, and not for emotional reasons.
Even though the plan may sound far-fetched to some, there are some pretty practical hints in the book that could help folks who find that they are eating when they aren't really hungry. For example, Dr. Albers recommends eating at least three meals every day, and having a snack every three hours or so. She also says it is important to stay away from typical junk foods and appetizers because it is very easy to eat more than you intend once you get started. If you see yourself in any of these descriptions, you might want to read Eating Mindfully.
Conclusion
While many people swear by the positive effects they get from psychologists or fat loss counselors, the truth is that it is not easy to lose weight. It requires self-discipline, sacrifice, and a willingness to stick with a program. All of the books mentioned here might be helpful for some people with certain weight-loss issues. But anyone who really wants to shed pounds will also have to have a good eating plan to follow.
That's where I think Fat Loss 4 Idiots is so valuable. It is a simple diet that is easy for me to follow. I download meal plans for eleven days from the website, and I have found that it is simple to follow the directions and eat as instructed. After eleven days, I get three free days to eat whatever I like, which is one of my favorite features of the plan. It keeps things interesting and stops me from hitting those frustrating plateaus that I have experienced before when dieting.
Knowing why I feel like eating or trying to heal psychological wounds from my childhood might be interesting, and even helpful. But I still need to know what to eat and when to eat it. The FL4I plan does that for me without the necessity of me spending every waking moment thinking about what my next meal will be. While psychologists might have their place, I would recommend Fat Loss 4 Idiots as a simple and effective way to take off the pounds. Check here to learn more about the plan that has worked so well for me.
More Dieting Tips:
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Atkins: The Low-Carb Diet That Started it All
Bread for Life? And It's a Diet?
Can the South Beach Diet Really Get You Ready for Swimsuit Season?
Can Psychology Really Help With Fat Loss?
What's the Deal With the Eat-Clean Diet?
Do You Lose Fat if You "Eat To Live?"
Foolish Fads and Preposterous Plans That Can Derail Your Fat Loss
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