WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
ARE YOU STRUGGLING FROM WEIGHT MANAGEMENT ISSUES?
Relationship with food can be complex and everyone has different experiences. Often, psychological issues and life experiences can lead to weight management issues, which in turn can lead to mental health problems. At Select Psychology, we provide professional mental health services to help you cope in a safe and confidential environment.
WHAT IS WEIGHT LOSS MANAGEMENT THERAPY?
The goal of weight management is to help you cultivate behaviours, techniques and habits that enable you to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is experienced by a growing number of people of all ages. If you find yourself in the vicious cycle of attempting to diet only to fall off the wagon several days or weeks later, then you’re not alone.
It is recognised that losing weight is often very difficult, and there can be important psychological components to eating that are overlooked, such as food cravings and emotional distress. Psychological problems can affect an individual’s ability to make and sustain the behavioural changes that lead to weight loss. Weight loss management with the help of a therapist may be just the thing you need. Consulting a professional can assist you with the psychological component that comes with losing and maintaining weight.
The Symptoms
If difficulty in losing weight and keeping it off sounds familiar, then you may well benefit from one-to-one weight management sessions. If you have a severe weight condition (Body Mass Index of above 40, or 35 with co-existing health conditions such as diabetes) then you may be considering bariatric (weight loss) surgery. There are various surgical options and there is clear evidence that gastric surgery for obesity can result in weight loss.
However, if you are considering weight loss surgery, it is important to meaningfully address any underlying emotional eating or eating difficulties prior to the surgery. It is known that weight regain after successful weight loss typically occurs when behavioural changes slip and emotional eating becomes difficult to manage. It may be helpful to seek therapy before and after weight loss surgery in order to maximise weight loss and minimise relapse.
WHEN TO SEEK THERAPY FOR WEIGHT LOSS
You should consider therapy for sleep problems when you experience:
Shortness of breath
Increased sweating
Snoring
Difficulty doing physical activities
Low self-esteem and confidence related to your weight
Joint and back pain on a regular basis
Fatigue or often feeling tired quite quickly
THE BEST THERAPIES FOR WEIGHT LOSS MANAGEMENT
Intensive Behavioural Therapy
Psychotherapy
BENEFITS OF THERAPY FOR WEIGHT LOSS MANAGEMENT
Reframe faulty thoughts about food, eating, your body and yourself
Establish a regular pattern of eating
Set clear limits with oneself and with others, and maintain clear boundaries
Learn about self-care
Understand the basic principles of healthy eating, including consequences of food
Understand the basic principles of habit change
Replace negative eating habits with other, more pleasurable activities
Adopt a lifestyle consistent with long-term weight loss maintenance
Manage stress effectively
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS MANAGEMENT
If you are suffering, it is best to seek treatment as soon as you are able to, but in the meantime there are things that can help while you wait for your first appointment:
Positive self-talk: Going on a weight loss journey can be daunting and quite scary in the beginning. You must be your own cheerleader through this and believe that this will help you become a better version of yourself.
Healthy eating habits: Choosing healthier alternatives and gradually changing your unhelpful eating habits can help kickstart your weight management journey slowly and steadily.
Exercise and physical activity: Engaging in some form of physical activity can help manage your weight in a healthy manner and help you achieve your goal.
Change your environment: Do not underestimate the impact our surroundings can have on our mood and our habits. If you are in a surrounding that allows unhelpful habits to persist, it’s time to make some changes.
Set realistic goals: This is by far the most important thing to remember! Balancing your actions can help you say much more consistent.
Dieting: Dieting, if done the right way, is an effective way to manage your weight. Beware of fad diets that claim quick results and promote unhelpful eating habits. Remember: a healthy diet is a lifestyle choice, not a quick formula to lose weight only to fall back on unhelpful eating habits.
HOW CAN OUR PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS MANAGEMENT?
We offer a wide range of therapies to help with weight management and give you the tools to cope and understand your emotions. We are a private mental health service with highly trained therapists and no waiting lists.
This is how therapy would work:
Step 1
Get in touch
Step 2
Telephone Consultation
Step 3
Appointment Offer
Step 4
Initial Assessment
Step 5
Your Therapy
Step 6
Feeling Better
HELPFUL THINGS TO KNOW
What is weight loss therapy?
Weight loss therapy is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy with a specific focus on lifestyle changes that enable weight management. It is primarily to deal with the psychological side of weight management.
What are the best ways to manage weight healthily?
Some tips for healthy weight management are:
- Avoiding sugary drinks
- Exercising on a regular basis and being consistent
- Incorporating fruits and vegetables in your diet
- Watching the portion size
What are some easy lifestyle changes to begin my weight loss journey?
- Do not eat in front of the TV or computer
- Set realistic goals
- Choose healthier alternatives
- Meal preparation instead of ordering in or eating out