Stop Obsessing – You’ll Be Slimmer

By Nancy Adler • Originally published in T.V. Atlantic Magazine

There’s a fine line between being vigilant and being obsessed about weight loss. Always thinking about food, calories, the scale or your hips can stress you out and sabotage your efforts. Studies show that stress raises levels of cortisol, a hormone that can plump up your belly.

Keeping a food journal is the key to staying aware and in control. To see eating patterns you need to change, write down what you’ve eaten (Doritos), the circumstances and your hunger level or feelings.

Target your energy toward steps that will make the scale change: taking a walk every day or cutting out high calorie snacks. Obsessing about the end results will do little to help you achieve it. Guidance with weight control through a nutritionist will help to keep you on track and be “accountable.” Limit your weigh-ins to once a week.