Weight management is one of the most elusive life wants by men and women across the world.
It is also a top new year's resolution that appears year on year. Some people I know have had it on their new years resolution list all of their adult life.
What is the problem?
Misinformation is part of the problem. numerous television programmes have exposed that people were not aware of what constitutes a healthy eating and drinking lifestyle. This is not helped by some companies stretching the truth about their products on the packaging with high protein or the like in large writing.
Some of the problem is that most people do not spend time looking through the ingredients or composition lists is small writing on packets, jars and tins.
Some of the problem is that even where an individual does read the packaging they do not know what constitutes high fat or carb or sugar. some help is given by some companies by the colours red, amber and green.
Some of the problem is time. it is still the case in 2026 that a large proportion of fast food is of the high sugar variety.
Some of the problem is stressful lives. if you are having a stressful day, how likely are you to order a protein based meal with a salad and fruit for your lunch over a sandwich and crips or chocolate?
What is the solution?
We need some big changes and these are happening. Information relating to clean eating is readily available on the internet and in magazines. Weight loss drugs, some NHS funded, are also receiving some good press about results.
Massive sums are invested annually in initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of the UK population.
What I am interested in is the fact that the biggest contributory factor to our obesity epidemic is our choices, what our mind tells us to do. For example, I feel upset and need a chocolate fix. Yes the availability of ultra-processed food is high so that to our emotional minds it is like a red rag to a bull. But what is driving our choices? why do we feel like we do and take action based on that feeling?
A good place to start is to logically familiarise yourself with what constitutes good nutrition such as lean proteins, fruit and vegetables, healthy fats and wholegrains. An occasional treat would be something not on the list.
However, what I am interested in as a psychologist for your being in control or on top of your weight management is your choices and what your mind tells you to do. What mindset is driving you to choose your current foods and drinks and what mindset could help you to choose nutrition with the occasional treat.
If you have read my other posts you will know that a whopping 90% of the mind is subconscious and emotional and that precedents here driving your conscious choices. In simple terms if you have habitually eaten to excess you are going to need to make changes at a subconscious level to stop doing this.
Where will you need to make changes?
Step 1 - swap an old automatic thought such as I am stressed I need a bar of something moorish to how will I feel after I have eaten [what I am about to eat]?
Step 2 - swap a rule such as I always have a treat in the evening to I will have a non-food or drink treat Monday to Thursday and a food or drink treat on the other nights.
Step 3 - swap a belief such as I have always comfort ate to excess to I now use mindfulness to keep an eye on my portion sizes and balanced meals.
My premise is that you need to change your unconscious thinking patterns to become pretty good at weight management. The above are examples. You can get curious about your own thoughts rules and beliefs. What are they? What could you, this year, update them to that will be a small stap forward to progress from.
Some people who have a high degree of discipline can do this work consciously using their logical mind. However, since 90% of the mind is unconscious (emotional, powerful, see earlier blogs) hypnosis which access this deeper level, is often much more effective to make changes in mind thought patterns.
An exercise to try before seeking help would be to self hypnotise by listening to your favourite relaxation app. Then practice visualising yourself at your end goal; for example in front of your mirror looking healthy or the scales registering your target weight or seeing yourself running around wit your dog. Yu might then see yourself writing down in your diary the two or three steps that you will take to achieve this outcome.
I would love to hear how you get on via my e mail pam@pammaddencounselling.co.uk