Losing weight is not just about dieting or exercising as proven by the countless number of failed diets and exercise programs. First, you need to identify and let go of the many Mental, Emotional, Subconscious, and Spiritual blocks that prevent you from losing weight. I call them the M.E.S.S. blocks; they are limiting beliefs, thoughts, or fears that prevent your weight loss. If you do not let go of these blocks, you’ll continue to have an extremely hard time losing weight and, if you do succeed, you’ll continue to gain the weight back.
If your parents and siblings are extremely overweight, you may think that it really is impossible for you to lose weight and be thin. This is especially true if your family members have been trying to lose weight without success. Here are some limiting thoughts and beliefs that you may have if you grew up in such a family: “No one in my family can be thin; everyone in my family, including me, is supposed to be fat; I am supposed to be fat; my family is supposed to be fat; there is nothing I can do, I just cannot lose weight. Losing weight is impossible, so why even try? I always fail when it comes to weight loss. I cannot succeed at losing weight. There is absolutely no way I can lose weight; it really is hopeless.” In addition to these overwhelming negative thoughts and beliefs, if you happen to be the only one eating healthy or dieting in your family, it will be almost impossible for you to succeed unless you have a motivation of steel. You’ll be tempted 24 hours a day to eat unhealthy foods and deviate from your healthy regimen.
Plus, if your parents or siblings are fat, you may have the belief that to fit in with your family, you need to be overweight. If your mother, father, sisters, and brothers are fat, ask yourself, do you have any other option than to be fat?
What are the chances you are able to grow up with a perfect body and still fit in with your overweight family? You are going to develop the belief that you cannot be different from them. It does not matter how many diets you try, you are going to never be thin or stay thin because a part of you does not desire to succeed.
Most of us have a strong need to fit in and belong, which is a basic human need. We also want and need to be loved. Even though, consciously, losing weight might be essential to you, subconsciously you may not need to lose weight if this means you have to give up fitting in, belonging to, and getting loved by your family. Ask yourself. Would you still belong to the family if you are thin? Would you still be loved and accepted if you might be the only thin person in your family?