We know that it has got everything to do with food. We understand that exercise is another vital factor. But did you know that it has also got something to do with the way you solve problems?

It does!! Here’s the fact from scientific research¹ : Maintainers (people who were succeeded at losing weight and keeping it off) and Regainers (those who lost weight but failed to keep it off) both have problems that are troubling or stressful, but they solve them in different ways.

1. Face the problem VS run away from it.

When asked “How are you dealing with the most stressful or troubling aspect of your life right now?”, almost all of Maintainers (95%) said that they confront the problem and use problem solving approach. This is compared with only 10% for Regainers.

2. Focus on problem VS emotion.

Regainers (70%) were more likely to use emotion-focused or escape-avoidance ways of coping - such as eating, smoking, drinking, taking tranquilizer, sleeping more, or wishing the problem would go away - than were Maintainers (33%).

3. Ask and get help VS rely on self.

In response to problem situations, more Maintainers (70%) talked out feelings and sought support or help in dealing with their problems from family, friends, and professionals than did Regainers (38%).

Another research reported similar findings of how Regainers overate when facing stressful situation, whereas Maintainers did not² .

“Food is like a sedative to me… When I feel any little bit of sadness or anger, I eat. It’s almost like being fed as a baby. I will eat and eat until I can’t move and then I go and lie down and I sleep. And it’s almost like, ‘Here baby, come to mother…’ ” (A Regainer)

“Eating stops the process of my brain going. It offers relief from thoughts that might actually be quite uncomfortable”. (A Regainer)

“I’ve learnt to look for other things that give me the same feeling that eating might. Because that, for me, seemed to be the only way forward.” (A Maintainer)

So, now that we know these, what we can do about it? Surely it helps to improve our personal problem solving skills. These are the steps that you need to follow when solving problems:

• Define what the problem is. Usually it involves a “gap” between what it IS and what is desired.
• Think of the alternatives that you have. Consider positive and negative aspects of each alternative. During this process, talk to your spouse, family, or friend, ask professional help, or go to online support forum - find as much social support as you possibly can. Write everything down in a journal if that helps you think clearer.
• “Sleep over it” or distract yourself with other thing temporarily to let the subconscious part of your mind to help.
• Next, take a deep breath, pray, and then choose one alternative and JUST DO IT.
• Evaluate the result and for better or worse, learn from it.

Whatever it is that you do, observe yourself and be aware if you run to food to help make you feel better (comfort eating) or to distract yourself from unpleasant thoughts (avoidance eating). Look for non-food alternatives to sooth (take a hot shower or get a massage or talk to someone) or distract yourself (exercise or do extra work or watch a movie). And don’t forget to go back to face your problem and solve it. Best of luck! My thoughts are with you.

Equip yourself with more strategies to keep it off:

1. Warning: if you think of it as one night stand, you’ll fail.
2. Top weight loss secret.
3. Double your chance for keeping it off.
4. Little known reasons why people fail to keep it off.
5. You must stay alert in a diet battle.

1. Kayman S. et al. Maintenance and Relapse after Weight Loss in Women: Behavioral Aspects. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1990;52: 800-807. [↩]
2. Bryne S. et al. Weight Maintenance and Relapse in Obesity: a Qualitative Study. International Journal of Obesity 2003;27: 955-962. [↩]