A Holistic Approach to Weight Loss

Thursday, 28 January 2010 19:28

Being overweight can affect just about every area of your life. Though everyone has his or her own reasons for choosing to undergo weight-loss surgery, the motivation often stems from a variety of physical, emotional, and social factors. Perhaps you are taking multiple medications to treat weight-related health problems. Maybe your weight is affecting your relationship with your friends, spouse, or other family members. Maybe you just want to gain more energy and feel better about yourself.

 

Holistic weight loss

Whatever your reasons, meeting your goals and making lasting, healthy changes often requires a holistic approach to weight loss. A holistic approach to your health means you are taking care of all your health needs, not just focusing on the numbers on the scale.
There are many different approaches to holistic health. Some people use holistic as a synonym for alternative therapies, but taking a holistic approach to your health does not mean you have to forgo modern science or start regular reflexology sessions. By definition, holistic means being concerned with the whole and the interdependence of its parts. That means that your emotional, physical, and spiritual health are all connected. For many people, achieving true health means attending to other areas of mind-body fitness in addition to their weight goals.

 

Physical health

Of course, your physical health is your main focus when you undergo weight-loss surgery and begin losing weight. Learning healthy eating habits and engaging in a regular exercise program are the first steps towards achieving greater physical health.

 

Emotional health

To qualify for weight-loss surgery, you may have already undergone a psychological evaluation. Many weight-loss surgery patients find it helpful to continue going to therapy after surgery as well. If you are have a history of self-medicating with food or engaging in "emotional eating," you may be at risk of addition transference – turning your food addition into another destructive behavior such as compulsive shopping, gambling, or alcohol abuse. Therapy can help you learn new ways to deal with stress and get to the root of any deeper emotional issues that may be contributing to overeating.

 

Social health

Research shows that attending a support group is key to success after weight-loss surgery. Support groups can help patients feel connected to others and stay positive throughout treatment. In addition to providing a resource for addressing your specific questions and concerns, support groups allow patients to form positive relationships, develop a healthy perspective about change, manage changes in personal relationships, and develop healthy coping skills.
Spiritual health

Greater spiritual health often leads to greater physical health. Research shows that people who engage in regular prayer or meditation have greater brain function, increased creativity, lower stress levels, lower cholesterol, increased productivity, greater strength of self-concept, and improved relationships with others. Even if you aren't religious, you can engage in some type of spiritual practice. It may be sitting in silent meditation, listening to inspiring audio CDs, or taking a walk in the woods and enjoying nature — whatever helps you feel connected to your definition of spirituality.