I Want to Lose Weight ‘But’ How Do I Overcome My Genetics?
I Want to Lose Weight ‘But’ How Do I Overcome My Genetics?
If you want to get into a smaller pair of jeans with the genes you’ve got, this ‘visualization technique’ shows you how!
Are these the excuses that keep you from losing weight?
- “Both of my parents had weight issues, so there is nothing I can do about it.
- “It isn’t my fault, it’s just genetic.”
- “My family has a history of low metabolism making it hard for us to lose weight, so why exercise?”
Great news! Recent research suggests that obesity is not genetic but learned behavior. (Being 30 pounds overweight is considered obese). Genetics only play a part in how we react to the environment, not how much food we eat or how much exercise we do.
Each of us chooses whether or not to have just one more cookie or to say yes when asked, “Would you like to supersize that?” We choose whether or not to drive to the corner bakery for a donut or whether we walk to the park. That, of course, is not to say you should blame yourself or beat yourself up over the extra weight. Every single person makes mistakes and has weaknesses. I’ll be the first to admit my weaknesses are ice cream and chocolate!
When my husband comes home with ice cream, I melt. It is more difficult to start a fitness routine when your family’s behavioral inclinations have affected you. Daughters of obese mothers are ten times more likely to be obese, and sons of obese fathers are six times more likely. It is not easy to break the behavioral pattern, but you can move beyond that. Who knows, maybe once you start exercising and are fit, others in your family will come to believe that they can do it too. Set a good example for your family and prove to them that none of you are stuck being overweight. How? Consider any famous athlete, like the golfer, Tiger Woods whose ability to visualize exactly what he must do each time he swings his club is paramount to being the greatest golfer of our time.
Visualization Weight Loss Technique
- Close your eyes and visualize yourself at your goal weight while inhaling deep breaths in through your nose and exhaling out your mouth.
- Visualize what outfit are you wearing? Continue visualizing as you focus on slow, relaxing breathing exercises. (If you have a thyroid disorder, the breathing exercises help to boost your metabolism).
- Now visualize an event you are attending as the slim you. How do you feel?
Do each step for one minute every day.
It may be that your particular genetics do in fact make you more susceptible to conditions that cause weight gain to be more likely. Hashimoto’s Disease is one example. (See last week’s blog to learn more). If you believe you suffer from a genuine medical condition that is associated with weight problems, then get a physician’s advice. Once you are treating the condition, start exercising consistently. With the combination of treatment and exercise, you will be feeling like your younger self in no time and change the course of your life.
Take the next step now with Beginners Dynamic Yoga: Release Stress and Lose Weight where you’ll learn the same guided visualization techniques Suzanne Andrews used to motivate her to shed 60 pounds of stubborn fat!
Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.
