No one likes to feel physical discomfort. Unfortunately, losing weight and exercising often involve some form of physical discomfort. During weight-loss efforts, a common discomfort is hunger. Whether it is a slight rumble in the stomach or gnawing hunger pangs, many people are quick to take notice of the hunger and want the feeling to go away immediately. There are many weight-loss programs designed to eliminate any feelings of hunger, yet some people still worry about or fear the very idea of feeling hunger. Exercise can also produce many types of physical discomfort. Discomfort may come from the pounding on your feet while running, the burning of hard-working muscles, or feeling your lungs reach deep for breath. While many people report a euphoric feeling associated with exercise, many others focus on the uncomfortable feelings involved, and never stick with it long enough to feel the positive sensations.
Now you have two agendas on your plate: the desire to avoid hunger and discomfort, and the desire to have a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, you may jump to take care of the physical discomfort without considering the impact to your healthy goals. Do you eat or snack impulsively? This eliminates the hunger, without allowing you any time to consider more thoughtful options. Impulsive eating can also sabotage your exercise goals, as exercising on a full stomach is unpleasant and can cause stomach cramps. Other strategies to avoid the discomfort of exercise may include telling yourself that you will do it tomorrow, simply forgetting about it, or getting distracted by other activities.
What is causing you to quickly resolve your physical discomfort, even though it is working against your healthy goals and what you believe is best for you? A good guess is centered on your thoughts about the discomfort. Are you thinking, “I’m starving,” “I’m too tired,” “I have to make this go away,” or “I can’t stand this feeling”? These thoughts may lead you to believe that the discomfort you are feeling is so bad that you should avoid it at all costs, even if it means compromising your goals. The urgency of these thoughts can also make it difficult to consider your health goals and to choose how you want to respond.
The following questions will help you identify whether the need to avoid physical discomfort is an underlying agenda for you. You are encouraged to think about each question and reflect on past incidents where you got off track.
- How quickly do I look to alleviate feelings of hunger and tiredness?
- How well do I tolerate discomfort, while still being able to make careful decisions?
- Do I often give myself permission to immediately satisfy any physical discomfort?
- How often do I tolerate feelings of discomfort in order to continue doing something that I feel is more important?
