Imagine it: you’re ready to lose weight. You’re ready to find out exactly how many calories you need to eat (no more, no less) and what foods to never touch again. But then when you ask a professional to make your new dietary plan, the advice you receive is not about what you eat, but rather how you think about what you eat.
This is a common scenario at the Integrative Center for Wellness for new clients who are interested in losing weight. It’s certainly not the typical dietary approach to weight loss. But, then again, typical diets simply do not work – not in the long run, anyway. How can they, when only focusing on what you eat is the small, visible part of the huge weight and wellness iceberg?
In addition to choosing what to and what not to eat, there are biological and psychological effects of dietary changes and weight loss efforts to consider. With so many factors affecting our bodies from the inside out, it’s impossible for calorie-focused dietary tricks to get us where we want to go on a scale. That’s why the Integrative Center for Wellness offers advice and guidance that focuses on what does affect weight loss, and wellness – ensuring that you’ll be started down the path to not just a skinnier you, but an overall healthier you.
The Full Picture: Approaching Weight Loss and Wellness
Contrary to public opinion, simple calorie counting is not the final step in one’s efforts to lose weight. There are many other elements to consider – elements that the average diet plan do not take into consideration. Take the following three factors that all of us live with to some degree:
- Mental health. Our day-to-day grind can easily affect our mental health – and, therefore, our cravings. Do you gravitate towards chocolate in times of stress? Our environment affects our mental health, our thought process, and even our daily impulses. Stress is a normal part of the day for many so unless you can replace that craving for chocolate with something else, the daily grind of a work day could quickly turn into a weight loss and wellness pitfall.
- Basic habits. Think about your daily routine and behavior. Do you associate a certain beverage with a set meal? Do you snack in bed? Do you munch on sweets while watching a movie? All of these are examples of common behavior and routine habits that many of us have. Recognizing them – and changing the way we think about and approach our relationship with food – is critical to wellness and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Without permanently changing our relationships with food and affiliated habits, stress and other triggers will lead us right back to where we started before you tried to lose weight.
- Biological responses. Research has repeatedly confirmed that dietary changes geared towards losing weight affect us biologically. Neurologically, our brains begin focusing on food more, making us more responsive to it. Hormonally, our bodies make us feel hungrier and hungrier, and refuse to let us feel satisfied. And finally, our metabolism begins to slow down, determined to hold onto every bit of weight that it can. Combined, these factors can feel insurmountable and contribute to any weight loss plateau – or even an increase in poundage!
Due to factors like these, a caloric adjustment to what you eat is not enough to generate long-lasting changes to weight. More likely to succeed is a full-scope attack and plan – focused specifically on the skills and knowledge that can help you reach an achievable level of wellness.
The Integrative Center for Wellness Approach to A Healthier You
Wellness, and more specifically weight management, can help you live a longer, healthier, pain-free life. Being well, for many, means ultimately about learning a new way to think and act, and choosing nutrition that will support your biological needs and reactions to food and weight loss alike. Changing the way you think about, approach, and use food in your routine, is vital. It allows you to establish healthy attitudes and good habits and bridge how you, personally and uniquely, interact with the world. Through this process we learn how we can deliberately work towards obtaining what our bodies and our minds need to nourish ourselves in an optimal and healthy way.
Making these changes work for you rather than against you can be quite difficult. That’s where we come in. Our practice’s philosophy is geared towards providing both psychiatric and physical wellness services tailored to your needs, your body, and your goals. We meet with every client and learn about their history, their genetics, their lifestyle, their objectives, and their intentions – and we create a custom-tailored, holistic plan that addresses all. Armed with a bespoke treatment plan, you will be better prepared to be on your way to a healthier you.
Ready to start your journey to wellness? Contact us to make an appointment or to inquire about a free consultation that will explore exactly how we can work with you to create a healthier, happier you.
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