Phantom Fat!

As someone who has shed 100 pounds I have called myself determined, successful, lucky, grateful and healthier. But I never thought to call myself an amputee!

Apparently there is a term for that I’m still fat! feeling so many people have after losing significant amount of weight, even when the scale says otherwise and their number on the BMI chart hits the healthy mark.

Phantom Fat: That odd experience where you look in a mirror and still see yourself as you were before losing several clothing sizes.

Here is an interesting article on the NBC News website on phantom fat and what exactly is happening in your brain.

Phantom Fat

At March’s support group meeting I’ll be introducing some exercises we can do to help us achieve a healthy and realistic body image!

Labelling Obesity A Disease

The aim of labelling addiction of any kind a disease is to minimize the social stigma and make it easier for people to seek and receive medical help. Labelling obesity as a disease serves the same function; regardless of whether the obesity is part of addicted eating or not. There are certainly cases when obesity is caused by other syndromes and diseases, or by medications taken for other health issues, but these cases do not reflect a significant percentage of the obese population.

Social Support Equals Long Term Success

Researchers are still wrestling with how to help people keep weight off after group treatment ends. Enlisting family and friends in the effort may help, research suggests. According to one study, participants who enrolled in a weight-loss program with friends did a better job of keeping their weight off. In addition to teaming up with friends, these enrollees were given social support in addition to standard treatment. Two-thirds of those who enrolled with friends had kept their weight off six months after the meetings ended. In contrast, only a quarter of those who attended on their own had achieved that same success.

~ American Psychological Association