Healthy mind, healthy body
Your emotional health is a very important part of your weight-loss effort. Your Medical Weight Loss care team will give you strategies to address any negative emotions you might be associating with your weight. Emotional health includes a wide range of conditions that may affect your emotional and physical well-being. This may include conditions like anxiety, depression, disordered eating and others.
Weight loss efforts can sometimes be accompanied by feelings of stress, self-doubt and negative body image. Only by addressing your emotional health can you be truly healthy. It’s important to identify and address any emotional health needs you may have to be most successful in your weight-loss efforts.
While we will be there to support you every step of the way, there are many resources you can access to help supplement your emotional health journey. Explore some resources below.
Creating realistic and lasting emotional health habits
We’ll work with you to establish coping mechanisms to help with times of change and difficulty. These strategies may include:
- Self-monitoring
- Goal setting
- Problem solving strategies
- Stress reduction
- Motivational interviewing
- Mobilization of social support structures
- Mind and body connection
- Resiliency and mindfulness
- Handling sadness
- Navigating change
- Self-worth
- Body acceptance
Eating for a healthy body and mind
An important part of a healthier lifestyle is to separate your emotions from what you eat. We know that’s hard to do, especially since we often do it without realizing it. We’ve all turned to food when we’re bored, sad or stressed. There’s a reason they call it comfort food.
Emotional eating can hurt your physical and emotional health. A balanced diet may help you boost your energy, think more clearly and better manage your stress and moods. If you struggle with food cravings, here are a few questions to ask:
- Are you hungry or thirsty? We often eat when we are thirsty. Before eating, figure out if you’re hungry or are actually thirsty. A tall glass of water may really hit the spot.
- Eat regular meals and snacks. Eating regular small meals and snacks may help you not feel like you’re “starving.” When we are starving, we often grab the first thing that we see and eat way too much of it. Focus on what you’re eating and enjoy it more. Eat slowly, chew completely and enjoy each bite. This will help you to feel full and know when to stop eating.
- Measure out portions. When you enjoy your food, measure out a small portion and put the bag or container away.
- Choose healthier options. When you crave unhealthy food, choose a healthier option instead.
- Get support. If possible, surround yourself with others who are also trying to eat healthier meals or are supportive of your weight loss efforts.
Resources
Emotional well-being is as important as physical well-being and with United Well-being’s Emotional Resources you can find a way to achieve peace of mind that suits your needs, from free, premium access to the Calm app to 10 free counseling sessions through EAP and more.