Lifestyle Choices

Lean is supposed to be beautiful. As a result, some women spend most of their adult lives trying to get thin and stay that way. For, in our society, thinness has become a symbol of loveliness, success, self-control, and social acceptability—and being overweight the twentieth-century bete noire of womanhood. You know the kind of thing: “Lose that nasty twenty-five pounds with our super new slenderizing regimen and it will transform your life into a wonderful world of bliss.” Well, don’t believe it. (more…)

Your unconscious mind is tremendously powerful. It is a source of energy and creativity which—provided you can get in touch with it and turn it toward your desired ends—will work wonders for you. The use of creative imagery specifically geared to slimming can help you harness your own power. Following the principles of creative imagery, here are a few imaginary trips you can take to help you slim. Some will bring insight and increased self-awareness, others will help you get accustomed to yourself as a healthy, lean woman, still others can help you shed old, no longer useful thought patterns that have been hampering you. (more…)

Aim: this is a Gestalt technique designed to increase your awareness of how you feel about food and why the desire to eat has always seemed so compelling.

Picture a food which you think has a particular hold over you and which has contributed to your being overweight. See it in front of you and be aware of how it smells and feels and tastes. Now imagine that it can talk to you. Ask it questions like, “What are you doing?” and “What do you want from me?” Listen to its reply. You may have to speak to it several times. Then let it speak and pay attention to what it says. Do you agree or disagree? Carry on a dialogue with it and listen to all it has to say about itself and you. Continue with the conversation until you have said all that needs to be said and heard all it wishes to say to you. (more…)

Are you really? In an overweight society someone who is lean can feel like a freak when there is nothing wrong with her. And there can be real advantages to being thin. For instance, you are likely to live longer, be healthier, and excel in sports that demand skill. You also probably look great in your clothes.

If you are genuinely underweight, gaining weight is not just a matter of eating more jelly doughnuts. Many factors figure in why someone is excessively thin and all of them must be taken into account if you are going to do something about it. (more…)