Recently a client told me, “I realized that I have been resentful toward people who can eat whatever they want and stay thin.” She felt angry because weight has been such a difficult issue for her, yet she sees others who appear to not watch their food at all and do not gain.
I totally understand. In high school I used to tell my best friend, “I just don’t understand why I am so heavy. I eat the same thing as everybody else, but they’re all skinny.” I saw my friends eating pizza and ice cream and French fries – yet they were thin. I ate all that junk too and was 190 pounds.
It felt so unfair. I felt ripped off. I was angry. I was sorry for myself.
Even when I started working hard on losing weight, I still felt like it was unfair. I had to work so very hard to get every pound off.
I had to accept the fact that my metabolism made it more challenging for me to lose weight. I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and embrace the difficulty. I had to accept the “pain” of a disciplined lifestyle.
You may be feeling resentful and angry too. And I agree – it is unfair how some people burn their food off with no problem while others of us workout and count calories and fight to keep the weight off.
But until you let go of that resentment and stop feeling sorry for yourself, you will not be able to move forward. You must accept where you are and make a plan that will work for your body. It’s okay if it’s tough. You are tougher. You can do it.
