Challenge fears to lose weight and create a healthy lifestyle. Do the things you are afraid of and take pride in breaking free from the barriers you place on yourself.
Fear prevents action. It holds you back. Fear of weight loss is not uncommon, especially for those who’ve been overweight since childhood. Wearing a fat suit has become part of their identity, and taking off that mask would reveal what they are truly like underneath. Obese people fear being exposed if the fat were gone and they had nothing left to hide behind. The fear of losing weight is based on low self esteem.
Why Fear Losing Weight?
At first, it seems strange to think that you would fear the very thing you want the most. You want to lose weight so badly that it hurts, yet you self-sabotage your weight loss progress for fear of the person you will find under the layers of fat. The reality is there is a payoff for staying fat.
Overweight and obese people use their extra weight as a shield. The fat shield protects them from unwanted sexual advances, the pressure to succeed in a career, the embarrassment of not being able to play sports, and so on. Obesity becomes the scapegoat and can be blamed for all of your insecurities. Take away the weight and you only have yourself to blame.
Losing Weight Raises Expectations
Losing weight is scary since it means stepping up your game plan. Losing weight strips away the barrier that stands between you and the world. Without fat acting as the buffer, the world closes in on you and requires more out of you. Expectations are raised and you may or may not measure up.
Fear of Being Unhappy After Weight Loss
Another reason to fear losing weight and reaching your goals is being unhappy with who you are. Not only will other people judge you and either accept or reject the new you, you will also judge yourself. Will looking into the mirror and seeing the thin you really make you happy? What if you still don’t like the person you see in the mirror?
Action Steps to Conquer Fear
Hiding in a fat suit, paralyzed by fear is no way of living. To get more out of your life there are some changes you’ll need to make that can seem scary at first, but they will improve your health and change your life for the better.
- Accept yourself for who you are and love your body at whatever size you are.
- Work to change unhealthy habits and form new, healthier ones.
- Break out of your comfort zone and try new things on a regular basis.
- Reward yourself for making progress.
- Act like a thin person, even if you aren’t there yet.
- Seek support from friends and family.
- Work out regularly, including resistance training to improve your body and your mood.
- Adopt a positive attitude and create positive affirmations to reinforce the messages you want to send yourself.
- Identify your fears and tackle them one at a time to improve self-esteem.
- Identify your reason for losing weight and take the focus off of your body shape.
- Consider the health improvements you will benefit from by losing weight.
- Get professional help, if needed.
Don’t let fear get in the way of your weight loss goals. Make slow, steady progress and challenge your fears to improve your self-esteem.
