Self-Sabotage and Weight Loss

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Those who need to lose weight (more than a few pounds) may have what is routinely called ‘stinkin thinkin’. The way they think is unhealthy, not based upon facts, is negative, counterproductive, and has a self-sabotage theme to it. Self-sabotage is when a person does things that will destroy any success they have experienced. This is done because a person does not know how to handle success because of the lies they believe from the past. Many times they are afraid that persons, places, or things are going to rob them of their success, so they subconsciously decide “All my life people, places, or things have robbed me of my success, so I will have control over my life.” This in itself is ok, but here is the next level a person goes who self-sabotages:
Because they do not believe they can experience success, they start personally sabotaging their success. It makes them feel like they are in control of their life (they choose their failures instead of others choosing for them). As crazy as this sounds, many who desire to lose weight actively practice self-sabotage thinking and actions.

A person may also believe lies that are from the past and be determined to fulfill those lies even they are destructive to their recovery-weight loss. By believing the lies they self-sabotage their weight loss.

Many times self-sabotage is rooted in lies from the past or truths from the past that are not applicable to the present. There are based upon self-evaluations a person may have made because of past experiences.

Here are some "inner voices" that just might be holding you back regarding weight loss:

1.       I'll always be fat

2.       I'm not attractive (regardless of weight)

3.       I have no self-control

4.       It's my family's (husband's, son's, father's, mother's, lover's, boyfriend's, girlfriend's) fault

5.       I can't really be happy till I lose XX pounds

6.       I deserve to be overweight because I have no value

7.       If I lose weight I will be sexually immoral

8.       I am dumb

9.       I don’t deserve success because….

10.    I can’t trust people because they will hurt me, so I must do this on my own

11.    I will start tomorrow, it will be a better day.

12.   I can do nothing right.

What happens with Stinkin Thinkin and Self-Sabotage is a person will live a life of compromise and substitutes. For permanent change to take place a person must eliminate the core beliefs that stop them from being the best they can be in life. They must eliminate the self-destructive beliefs and behaviors.

So many self-destructive beliefs and behaviors, particularly those with losing weight, have strong deep roots in what happened as a child. Permanent weight loss may not occur until some or most of these root issues are resolved. This is especially so for those who have an eating disorder or food addiction. There can be unforgiveness, judgments, and inner vows that can feed the Stinkin Thinkin and the Self-Sabotage. As long as the past still has a hold on a person, the individual may not see permanent weight loss. Reading "Hope, Help, & Healing from Eating Disorders" can be of much help to understand these concepts. For some, counseling may be required.

Our reports on Change and Weight Loss, Principles on Forgiveness, and Forgiveness and Disorderd Eating can be of help.