BLISS LIFESTYLE

A psychotherapist proposes a new way of looking at weight loss.

Using approachable language, McKay, a clinical psychologist, provokes introspection about losing weight and creating a healthier lifestyle. The author asserts that being overweight is not a cause, but rather a symptom of a deeper, unresolved issue, one that requires a careful examination in order to resolve. Only through understanding what triggers overeating—the emotional distress caused by a traumatic experience or the learned behavior in response to stress—can someone achieve health and well-being. McKay asserts that most people fail repeatedly at maintaining a healthy weight because they do not follow this approach, identified by the author  as “not behavior modification, but spirit modification…that the intent of your choices will be based on self-nurturing.” McKay includes interactive worksheets that create a dynamic and individualized experience, calling for readers to look at the greatest fears and challenges that prevent them from realizing self-love. According to McKay, eating the right foods in the right quantities is only part of the equation; living “in the moment” and taking time to meditate daily is paramount for a balanced life. Taking the time to sit with oneself, McKay claims, “You will become more aware of your needs and preferences, determine what you want to honor these needs, brainstorm multiple solutions, choose one and implement it.” The author leaves plenty of room for the diversity of individual lives and experiences. She encourages readers to develop tailored affirmations to foster positive thinking so that the mind nurtures the body and soul and vice versa, the three parts of oneself, according to the author, that are inextricably linked.

An enlightening guide for losing weight from a refreshingly new vantage point.