News: Mind Over Fat

Mind over fat matter
By MERYL NAIDOO
11dec05

MENTAL exercise is the key to losing weight, new research shows.

A Newspoll survey on weight loss revealed that more than 90 per cent of Australians who battled the bulge were not mentally equipped. The survey found only 8 per cent thought a change in attitude was important.

It showed 65 per cent of dieters believed they had not been able to shed unwanted kilos because they were unable to give up bad habits.

Sixty seven per cent said they failed because they did not want it badly enough.

It also showed 91 per cent said it required a change in diet while 85 per cent cited exercise as the key to long-term weight loss.

“These figures highlight that although Australians are trying to manage their weight they lack the psychological tools to enforce behaviour change,” said Jane Waterhouse, general manager of Weight Watchers Australasia, who commissioned the study of 700 adults.

“They are aware of their bad habits and that these habits need to change, yet this is the last thing they are concerned about and it should be the first.”

But Kym Reeve, 35, from Mornington has beaten the trend.

She said unlike other times when she dieted this time she was mentally prepared.

“The focus was on a whole lifestyle and attitude change — taking small, gradual steps,” said the mother-of-three.

“When I’d slip into old, bad habits I was psychologically ready to stop them right then.”

She lost 45kg and is now a healthy 60.5kg and no longer suffers diabetes.

Mrs Reeve joined Weight Watchers when she was 105.5kg and noticed her health was declining.

“I felt really unhealthy, I had no energy — I couldn’t keep up with the kids,” she said.

“It’s just been fantastic. Today I’ve been at the pool all day with the kids, something I would have never dreamt of doing before because I was too ashamed to wear bathers.”

Mrs Reeve, a nurse turned stay-at-home mother, was crowned this year’s Australian Weight Watchers Slimmer of the Year.

She is planning a new career as a Weight Watchers group leader.

“Losing weight has benefited my health and my happiness so much,” Mrs Reeve said.