Dramatic weight loss can be addicting. There is a chance you may even develop mental health conditions, such as eating disorders. The FDA considers anything under 1200 calories per day is considered to be unsustainable for survival. Many experts argue, 1500 calories a day is the lowest someone should go. It’s a good idea to consult with your primary care doctor if you are intending on losing a substantial amount of weight. If you’ve already had a significant drop in weight, there are some ways you can cope with the psychological and emotional effects.
Schedule a therapy session
Dr. David Essien, PsyD is a black therapist who is currently offering teletherapy sessions. Teletherapy is a confidential and secure means of communication. He uses a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal process style to treat his patients. Dr. Essien is an African American therapist with years of experience treating substance abuse, low self-esteem, the psychological consequences of weight loss, domestic violence survivors, stress management, anxiety disorders, and trauma from sexual abuse.
His private practice is a safe space for you to discuss the symptoms of mental illness, traumatic life events, or life stressors. He will help you find inner peace, higher self-esteem, and personal growth because beauty is skin deep. If you are having a hard time after undergoing dramatic weight loss, he is known for helping a diverse population with their mental health issues. The first step to recovery is making the initial phone call.
A medical weight loss clinic is beneficial
A medical weight loss clinic has trained medical staff, mental health professionals, and health coaches. They are going to be there with you for every step of your journey. Their team includes Stanford-trained physicians and Diplomates of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
Their counselors understand the difference between trend diets and medical weight loss. When a person suffers from obesity, they often cannot have certain surgeries until they take obesity medicine, make lifestyle changes, engage in physical activity, and set weight loss goals. Reaching your optimal BMI through the use of medication, a medical weight loss program, and therapy is one of the ultimate goals. This medical weight loss clinic program can help you lose weight and achieve overall health in an appropriate manner.
Observe how you associate food with your feelings
If you grew up with a parent who was obsessed with keeping a slim body, you might be more prone to the dangerous appeal of dramatic weight loss. And maybe your mother prompted you to avoid fatty foods and carbs when you were a teenager. Following her lead later in life can cause mental health issues.
You may not even realize it, but you may associate food with your feelings, the deeply ingrained feelings from your childhood years. You’ll want to gradually reset the way you look at food. It won’t happen immediately. But with hard work and mindfulness, you can change your thought process related to eating.
Forgive yourself
If you’re on the road to recovery and you happen to slip up, forgive yourself. You have worked so hard to eat properly again, and you’re no longer restricting calories to a bare minimum or dramatically losing weight. Slip-ups happen.
Let’s say you’re at your friend’s birthday party, and you desperately want to eat a piece of cake, but you refrain. Your mind races, contemplating whether or not you should eat the cake. If you don’t, it’s okay. There will be plenty of more cake in your life. The key to eating foods that are deemed unhealthy is moderation. In moderation, all foods are OK.
Dieting often makes people feel worse about their bodies
Dieting can make you feel worse about your body. If you have high blood pressure or medical issues, a healthy diet may be necessary. Otherwise, studies have shown dieting doesn’t necessarily make people happier about their appearance. One of the main culprits is low self-esteem.
Media and society tell us that we need to be thin if we want to be beautiful. Accepting your body and learning to love yourself, inside and out, is the first step. A qualified therapist or counselor can assist you in this process. Remember, ‘your body is merely housing for your soul.’
