Your weight and your mental health are inextricably linked. How you feel about your body can have a significant impact on how you feel about yourself. Changes to your psychological and emotional state will often also present in physical ways.
This is why, in addition to being physically difficult, losing weight can take a real mental toll. Regardless of whether you do it through lifestyle changes, doctor-supported medication, or surgery, it can be an emotional rollercoaster of a journey. This is particularly true when you lose a significant amount of weight, as the highs are higher and the lows are lower.
The initial high
You have your reasons for wanting to lose weight. Maybe you want to improve your general health or reduce the likelihood or impact of a specific health condition. Maybe you want more energy to spend chasing around your kids or pursuing your favorite pastimes. Or maybe you need to lose weight to be eligible for certain medical procedures, like IVF or joint replacement surgery.
Seeing your early progress gives you a real boost. As you start to move toward your goal, there is a sense of accomplishment, which provides even more motivation. Your self-confidence grows as your clothes become looser, and your energy levels and mobility increase. This is reinforced by those around you, who see the change and praise your efforts. You also start receiving compliments on your appearance, possibly for the first time in a long time.
The inevitable plateau
As the initial energy and excitement wear off, so does some of your positivity. Your progress slows or stops completely, which is both disappointing and demotivating. Negative self-talk starts to creep in as you begin to question whether it is all worth it.
You start to consider whether your goals are realistic or if you should just give up. You also start considering more drastic measures to ensure you keep moving forward.
The external validation is still forthcoming, but now it hits a little differently. Now it feels less earned and more of a reminder that other people are watching, judging. It reinforces your concerns about failure and justifies your decision to either give up or double down.
The long-term struggle
You somehow manage to push through the plateau, and it gives you a second wind. Your progress restarts, though at a slower pace, and getting close to your goals adds fuel to your fire. With one last push, you do it – you reach your goal.
The sense of achievement is enormous, and your self-confidence and self-belief are at an all-time high. You allow yourself some time to celebrate and indulge in the spoils of your hard work. You share the great news with those who have been following and supporting your journey, and their praise is effusive.
You stay in the positive glow for a while, but ultimately it starts to fade. Without the excitement of progress and milestones, your new lifestyle becomes routine, and it steadily becomes harder to stay committed. The negative self-talk starts creeping in again, asking one simple question: What now?
The sense of purpose your journey gave you is gone, and daily discipline is much less exciting. The praise becomes less frequent, and you wonder who you are now, now you’re not defined by your weight loss. You realize that losing the weight has not fixed the issues that caused you to gain it in the first place.
Making sure you have the right support
You do not embark on your weight loss journey alone. You have the support of a doctor advising you on medications or surgeries, or a dietician providing healthy meal plans. You may also have a trainer pushing you through weight-loss-focused workouts, and online “experts” providing inspiration and tips.
If you want to maximize your chances of success, your team should also include a mental health professional. This could be a psychologist, a nurse who has completed online PMHNP programs, or a therapist who specializes in weight management care.
This person will work with you to better understand your motivations and put structures in place to keep you accountable. They will help you monitor your mental state and equip you with the tools to navigate the tougher times. They will also help you think beyond your weight loss and set meaningful goals that evolve as your journey progresses.
A suitably qualified weight management care specialist can also help you to address any underlying weight-related issues you may have. This includes improving your relationship with food, addressing your disordered eating, and identifying any emotional eating triggers.
