Understand Why You Are Doing What You Are Doing

Most of us have made New Year Resolutions to lose weight and end up blowing it before the 1st month is up. Why is that? Why is it so difficult to make a resolution and follow through with it.

The fact that so many people are not able to overcome this challenge is a clear sign that something is fundamentally flawed in the approach. Here are some thoughts about these fundamental issues.

1.  Vows Do Not Transform Lives, Understanding Does

The most basic flaw is that a resolution is a vow. Now this might seem paradoxical but if the resolution is based on a vow than it is most likely to fail. This is because vows cannot transform our lives. Only deepening our understanding can transform our lives.

When we make a vow, it is an indication of a lack of understanding. We are trying to compensate our lack of understanding by making a vow. Once we truly and deeply understand something, there is no need to make vows. Our very understanding will lead to effortless self-discipline.

Once when we have a deep understanding of what we want and why we want to lose weight, will we spend the energy to educate ourselves on how we can achieve these targets.

2.  Confusion About What We Want and What Actually Works

What we want and what works are two very different things. Knowing what works comes from a deeper understanding of a subject. Understanding leads to transformation.

Yet the task of deepening one’s understanding is not an easy task. The brutal truth is most of us do not want to know the truth. This is because the truth is often uncomfortable and usually requires dropping some dearly held ideas, wants or desires.

An earlier article on Confirmation Bias expands on this point. Your body do not understand to your ideas, wants or desires. Your body only respond to the actions that you impose upon it.

A lot of people want quick weight loss without effort or exercise. So they look for quick fix solutions which may give some first results. Unfortunately, these actions would create a rebound in weight within a few months. Unless we can drop these ideas for a quick fix solution, we will always filter out information about weight loss that does not match up to “quick fix” expectations. This even though the non quick fix solutions may be more sustainable on the long-term.

Some people only want to do exercises that they enjoy. While this is definitely better than not exercising at all, chances are  that they will not get best returns for their efforts. As mentioned earlier, your body does not care about what exercise you do and do not enjoy. Your body only responds to the right stimulation. Unless you can drop the desire to only do exercises that you enjoy, you will always filter out information about exercises that are less enjoyable but may actually accelerate your weight loss.

Others cannot control their desire to over indulge in food. Our bodies do not care about our desires for food. Our bodies only respond to the type of stimulation our food provides and the calories it contains. Unless we drop our desire for too much calories or wrong types of food, we will always filter out information about the food that help with long-term and sustainable weight loss.

3.  Lack of Understanding Why We Really Want Weight Loss

This is another critical area that requires deep understanding. Having a clearer understanding of what kind of bodies we want and what we need to do to achieve it, us with a target and dream. We can then develop the plan or road map. However only when we truly understand why we really want weight loss do we have the energy to fuel our journey.

Each of us are fueled by different “whys”. Some find utilitarian “whys” such as looking good, feeling good and being healthy. Others need further reasons which are non-utilitarian such as love and compassion to fuel them.  Find your “why”, whatever it is. This is the one thing that will keep you going.

The truth shall set you free

Understanding and seeking the truth should be of utmost priority. Deepening the understanding of what we want to do and why we want to do will make sure that we succeed in what we want to do. Then truth becomes not only comforting, but inspiring. The truth is available to anyone who seeks it.

Further reading;

1. When Losing Weight Slow is Fast and Fast is Slow.
2. The Secret of Permanent Weight Loss