Dealing with Weight Loss Plateaus

A key issue in weight management is addressing the phenomena of “plateaus” and “relapses”. There are probably people who have literally lost 1000nds of pounds in their lives. The problem is that they put them all back on on again. (This is humorously referred to as the “rhythm” method of girth control)

A relapse, however, does not necessarily mean that a person has failed. But it will certainly feel that way. He or she will think; I am not only not losing weight, I am putting it back on again. What does that mean? No point, I am hopeless etc…

Clearly plateaus and relapses are a very critical time for someone attempting to manage his or her weight. The possibility is that the person will become disheartened, give up and go into a full regression. Then they end up back where they started or even worse.

It is at this time in particular that a person needs the appropriate tools, support and self awareness.

The Bandura Curve

From an NLP perspective, plateaus and relapses occur as a result of a natural pattern in the change process known as the Bandura Curve – based on the work of cognitive psychologist Albert Bandura. At the beginning of the process of weight loss, the person is primarily concerned with whether or not it is possible to lose weight and what he or she is supposed to do in order to make it happen.

At the relapse point, the person knows it is possible, and that he is at least capable. The question becomes more whether or not it is really so desirable. People start asking themselves, Do I really want it? Do I really deserve it? Is it safe? It becomes more of an issue of beliefs and identity.

It is totally different to wonder. “Can I lose weight?” than to ask “Am I now going to be a thin person the rest of my life”? These are not the same questions at all. One question has to do with short term behaviours and capabilities. The other has to do with ones identity and long term life style.

At the beginning people think: Off course I want to be thinner – Off course I deserve to be thinner. Why are you even asking? I just need to know what to do. At the plateau or relapse point, people already know what to do. The issue become more of “Who am I and why am I really doing this”.

The type of support a person receives at this point is not only crucial for his or her success at the task, but has important repercussions upon other aspects of that persons life. During this natural relapse time, a person needs non-judgemental support rather than either simple cheerleading or criticism.

A person also needs to have the appropriate tools and strategies to address the deeper level issues associated with the plateau or relapse.

Finding the Positive Intention

One very important NLP contribution to dealing with both obstacles and inconsistency in weight loss is the notion of “positive intention” that at some level all behaviour is (or at one time was) “positively intended” Another way to say it is that all behaviour serves (or at one time served) a “positive purpose”.

The positive intention behind eating candy, for instance, might be to get comfort or to reward yourself. Once the positive intention behind the seemingly negative behaviour has been discovered, alternatives are much more easily found.

According to NLP it is important to have at least 3 other choices that are as effective for fulfilling the positive intention of the problem behaviour in order to appropriately address the obstacle.

The process of identifying positive intentions and creating new choices, known as “reframing” in NLP, helps to transform a persons perception of a relapse from “self sabotage” or “failure” into being feedback about finding new alternatives. Rather than feeling mistrustful, guilty or ashamed about eating difficulties, the recognition of ones own positive intentions leads to greater trust in oneself and gives a specific strategy for finding other alternatives.

 This is a healthier response than becoming frustrated as a result of using the typical “trial and error” (or “trial and horror”) approach. Other NLP contributions to effective weight management.