PLEASURE AND WEIGHT LOSS IN THE SAME SENTENCE?: Experiencing the simple pleasures of life can lead to lasting weight loss!
Most of us believe that in order to lose weight we must suffer with bland diets, deprive ourselves of foods we love, and take on extreme or harsh exercise programs. Included in this belief is the notion that because we have gained this weight, we need to punish it off of ourselves. Someone with this type of belief certainly would not put the words weight loss and pleasure in the same sentence!
In addition, our society has taught us that participating in pleasurable experiences and taking time for ourselves on a regular basis are selfish, frivolous and a waste of time. Pleasure is seen as a luxury or an occasional reward for hard work. Our ‘to do’ lists rarely include things such as ‘curl up in a favorite chair to read a romance novel,’ ‘take a walk through the garden simply to see and smell the flowers,’ or ‘sit petting my cat while she sleeps in my lap.’ Our days are just too jam packed with stuff to do, stuff we ‘have’ to do, or stuff we are expected to do and our bodies revert to a subconscious state of stress and overwhelm.
Jena la Flamme, author of Pleasurable Weight Loss, says the missing ingredient to effective and lasting weight loss is not developing more willpower, restricting foods or forcing oneself to exercise. It is pleasure. She states, “The truth is, we need to tap into pleasure, relaxation and sensuality on a daily basis or our body senses something important is missing. When we deprive ourselves of reliable access to simple and diverse sources of delight, we are vulnerable to making up for what we are missing with food.” Because of our ingrained belief, when we begin to think about doing something pleasurable for ourselves, negative self-talk takes over and often stops us from doing the very things that would bring us joy. When we leave little or no room in our schedules for pleasure, we all too frequently try to fulfill this natural yearning though eating.
However, it is amazing how we can easily incorporate pleasure into our lives. Following Jena’s advice, think in terms of “simple and diverse sources of delight.” Here are some suggestions to get you started experiencing pleasure on a regular basis:
- Dance around the house and/or sing at the top of your lungs to your favorite tunes.
- Sign up for a hula hooping, pottery, magic, dance, or other fun type class that makes you smile just thinking about it.
- Go outside simply to be in Nature.
- Allow yourself some guilt-free relaxation – reading a good book, soaking in the tub, playing a board game, sipping a cup of tea, petting your cat, etc.
- Take a break from your chores and play a game of bocce or horseshoes, go window shopping or bowling, or do something else just because it is fun and makes you feel good.
- Allow yourself to enjoy the moment no matter what you are doing. Find the things that are fun for you, that make you feel good, and make them a part of your life.
Think of pleasure as a necessary daily nutrient. By consciously fulfilling this requirement, we are responding to an innate need for happiness and choosing healthy, sustainable ways to support our weight loss journey. Then, pleasure and weight loss can co-exist in the same sentence!
Do you find your days filled with “have to do’s” with little room for “want to do’s”? Do you feel guilty when you miss a workout or indulge in a treat? Do you all too often talk yourself out of doing something ‘just for the fun of it’ because you ‘should’ be doing other things? Then it is time to schedule a free Health Breakthrough Session with Brad & Pamela to find out how they can help you increase your daily intake of pleasure and lose unwanted weight. Call them today at 860-774-5048 or email them at brad@wellnesswithinct.com or pamela@wellnesswithinct.com
In Health,
Pamela & Brad Thompson
WellnessWithin