10 Psychological Reasons Why People Can’t Lose Weight
There are a myriad of reasons why people can’t lose weight and adhere to eating a balanced diet. I have heard every reason from blaming others to people making excuses for the lack of time that they have. Below we’re going to get right into the top 10 psychological reasons people can’t lose weight.
1. Unrealistic expectations – This may seem corny and untrue but remember the mind controls everything. People believe that they can change in one night cold turkey when it took them twenty to thirty years to get in the predicament that they are in. We must understand that you will need time before you start seeing any serious changes to your health. Remember, the continent of Africa wasn’t built in a day.
2. Comparisons – “My friend lost 15 pounds on the Atkins Diet so I should be able to do that as well.” This is a big no no! Comparing yourself is a fast road to disappointment which leads to lack of motivation. You can’t compare yourself to health nuts and people who have already undergone a major physical transformation. The reason is because you are only seeing the fruits of their labor. You did not see the work that it took to get there. You begin thinking that because your arms or legs are not built like the next person then you can’t lose weight.
3. You want everything to taste good – You find ways to put seasonings on any foods that seem to “taste nasty” or “have a bitter taste.” It has to taste good to you in order for you to eat it. Well, I’ve got news for you. Not all healthy foods are going to taste great (at least at first). In fact, many will not. But after you have gotten used to them you’ll be glad that you stuck it out.
4. Not used to discipline – Lack of discipline in life can and will most likely play a big role as to whether you can or can’t lose weight. Some people are accustomed to starting something and stopping when things get hard or don’t go their way. This may be the most important trait that can hinder someone from living a healthful life.
5. You’re afraid to rise above your environment – None of your family members live healthy lives so you feel guilty for trying to separate yourself and obtain optimal health. It’s a psychological issue and you feel that being healthy would mean leaving everyone behind or lead to you being ostracized. Breaking the bad health cycle is not always tangible things that you can actually see or touch. Most times it has something to do with things that you can’t see usually culminating from the mind.
6. The Magic Bullet Theory – For quite some time we’ve been living in the “right now” era. Everyone wants instant coffee, minute rice or fast food. People want to take one pill and be healthy that day. They don’t want to have to actually do anything, they just want to take the magic bullet pill and have everything better in an instant. These kinds of people are notorious for taking short cuts in life. The problem with this approach is that you could end up taking something that may speed your heart rate and cause a heart attack.
7. Event Planner Syndrome – Instead of taking ownership for their poor health, this person will wait for an event to happen or for a person to help them. You’ll hear things like, “When the new year begins, I will change my ways” or “Once my wife purchases the gym membership I’ll start working out more.” Many times these events never happen or they take too long to come into fruition so the person never accomplishes their goal of being able to live healthy because they’ve become so dependent on exterior forces.
8. I feel good so I must be healthy – This is a statement I’ve heard several times from many people who are overweight or sick. They associate lack of symptoms with good health. They can’t lose weight because they think that they are in great health. What happens is they end up getting some horrible disease and they don’t find out until the disease is in it’s final stages. Relying on feeling a certain way before you decide to take action to live healthy is not a good practice.
9. I don’t have the money – This person tends to associate healthy living with the size of their bank accounts. If this was true then millionaires and billionaires alike would never die because they would have enough money to buy the best healthcare that money can afford. The reality here is that the primary requirement to live healthy is a lifestyle change and the incorporation of more plant based foods.
10. Family Traditions – In my mind this is the most popular reason that people can’t lose weight. This person will not let go of many of the culinary cultural practices of their family. It does not matter if the food is unhealthy or not. They will continue to eat the same way because they are accustomed to it or “because mom said so.” If your parents have certain diseases from eating certain foods then it is a safe bet that you have a high chance of contracting those same diseases if you continue to eat those foods. Obesity and other health related diseases are more cultural than they are genetic. If you want to break the cycle of ill health and obesity then you have to be willing to change your diet.
When we think of health issues we usually think of hard addictions that are self evident and glaring. While hard addictions may be present it’s the soft addictions that often cause us the most trouble. Often times, soft addictions are things in which you normally engage yet have no clue that these things are detrimental to your health. Most people would not think that continuously delaying a change (event planner syndrome) in diet could harm you. But it does. The bulk of these issues can be repaired with consistent personal development which by default will enhance the way you look at your health and wellness.
Natural Hair Mag are the founders of Team Naturals hair care products. Using the best ingredients, our products will help you achieve the length, strength, and health you want for your hair.
