Change

I'm still here in Singapore and, whilst in regular contact with friends via Facebook and email, I am without a mobile phone.  It feels a little odd and this made me think about change in general, and change related to health and weight loss in particular.

Change is something we as humans are programmed to avoid.  We seek stasis, equilibrium.  Change may involve risk, and risk-avoidance is a survival tactic.  So change feels uncomfortable, and we seek to avoid that discomfort, too.

This applies to both positive and negative change.  For example, on the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale divorce rates 73 units and marriage rates 50 units.  Now one of those is a very positive, happy event and one sad and traumatic (you choose which is which!).

Especially in relation to weight and health, change is essential.  One has to modify food intake and seek non-food ways to soothe and deal with emotions.  So how do people cope? And effect change despite it feeling uncomfortable?

Firstly, by expecting discomfort.  That "high" we get when starting a new diet fades quickly especially when an emotion rears its ugly head (tired, stressed, angry, bored etc.).  If you are prepared for and expecting to feel uncomfortable then you've jumped a major hurdle.  Remember, change may be uncomfortable, but it will not be unbearable.  And the discomfort reduces over a relatively short period of time. People often don't know this because they've never tried.

And secondly, keeping focus on the long-term is crucial.  The momentary discomfort of not having that Tim Tam (or packet thereof!) will be seriously outweighed by the long-term health benefits.  Sure, you can be grumpy about not having the Tim Tams (you're not expected to smile and be cheerful).  Just remind yourself that you're experiencing short-term pain for long-term gain.  And to those of you who don't know what a Tim Tam is...use your imagination!