A Big Night for Extreme Weight Loss!

Tonight is going to be a big night in extreme weight loss as Chris Powell, star of Extreme Makeover Weight-Loss Edition and creator of Reshape the Nation, tries to help Wally lose excess weight he’s been carrying around for a long time.

Emotions can run hot for a compulsive eater trying to lose weight. It can seem like an impossible, up-hill battle for most in that particular situation. Having suffered from prior underlying issues such as incest, sexual abuse, child abuse, parental neglect or abandonment, parental substance abuse, and other adverse childhood experiences, these individuals often find that obesity is the solution, not the problem. Let’s begin asking the right questions.

You don’t want to ask an obese individual how they gained weight, however, a better question to ask is “when did they start gaining weight”. The emotions experienced in those underlying issues can rise to the surface when that individual begins to challenge the reason for most of their weight gain. That’s when they start to actually deal with the cause (underlying issue), instead of the reaction, (weight gain).

A seminar was hosted by Dr. Vincent Fellitti at Good Samaritan Hospital in which he spoke poignantly about his research on obesity and how it led to a study that links Adverse Childhood Experiences, otherwise known as the ACE Study, to problems such as obesity, diabetes, chronic health issues, domestic violence, and a myriad of mental health and substance abuse issues. To illustrate how research has missed the boat when it comes to obesity, he shows two photographs of the same woman, one where she weighs over 400 pounds and one after bariatric surgery where she has dropped to 130 pounds. He then asks the question “what is the problem and what is the solution”.

According to Joy Singh, MS, LCPC, once an individual learns that they can fully accept themselves, can they begin moving towards change. That’s when they can then begin to replace unhealthy coping skills with healthier ones which in turn provide for long-lasting change. For the obese individual, this would mean learning self-soothing skills that are not related to food. It would mean challenging negative automatic thoughts and raising self-esteem. It would mean being able to break down defenses and knowing they will still be here and be ok. It would mean the difference between living and existing, which to anyone, is one of the most valuable tools they could learn.

Comments for "A Big Night for Extreme Weight Loss!"

1. Is there any update on Wally?  After watching the show last week, my husband and I can’t stop talking about him.  His story was very poignant and we’re both wondering if there’s any followup on him. When was this filmed and how is he doing now?

   Thanks
   Diane

   Posted by Diane from Delta, BC Canada on 07/20 at 12:57 PM

Leave a Comment