Is Your Personality Affecting Weight Loss?

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While it is stating the obvious to say that we are all different, it is especially true when it comes to our relationship with food and exercise. But can your personality make you gain weight?

It has been suggested that certain personality characteristics influence our ability to successfully diet. However, just as there are two sides to every story, there are two ways to approach your personality type in regard to weight loss. The same characteristics that might cause you to pack on the pounds can also be used as a powerful weapon to battle the bulge. It is all about which way you look at it.

Here are a few personality types that have been recognized as counters to our weight loss endeavors. However, let’s talk about the ways we can use these traits to help us lose weight.

Addictive Personality:

Addictive personalities have an “all or nothing” outlook on most things in life; they have a tendency to see the world in black and white terms, making it difficult to establish a middle ground. Therefore, dieting with this personality type often results in binging or starving, but never making a total lifestyle change. Food becomes an addiction that the individual cannot deny, whether it means eating lots of it or eating none at all. There is no way to “cure” an addictive personality, but there are ways to use that to one’s advantage. Just like the 12-step program for alcoholics is said to trade one addiction (alcohol) for another (spirituality), the same can be done for those who are addicted to food. Being addicted to health is not a bad addiction as long as it’s done the right way. People with addictive personalities should develop a specific eating regimen, which will then become a routine, or in their eyes, a new (but healthy) addiction.

Competitive Personality:

Competitive personalities, just like addictive personalities, can be used for or against you. On the down side, competition can quickly turn into comparison, which can deter the dieter from carrying out their plan. Natural competitors need to be sure not to compare their bodies to everyone else’s, because no two bodies are alike. On the positive side, this personality type does really well in group diet plans – whether it means taking an exercise class, joining a weight loss group or simply starting a diet with a friend. Friendly competition is not only healthy, but a great way to bond with others.

Stubborn Personality:

Many of us are set in our ways and do not like change. While a level of stubbornness and independence is great for holding your ground in the world, if you are too stubborn and refuse to see your own flaws, you’ll be unable to grow as a person. And in conjunction with the rest of this post, you’ll make it much harder for yourself to lose weight! Chances are that if you haven’t lost weight on that diet you’re currently following, then you need to change what you’re doing. Insanity is repeating the same actions over and over but expecting different results. However, if you take your stubborn hat off for a minute, you’ll see that there are lots of different ways to lose weight. For this personality type, the best way to lose weight is to find a plan that works and stick with it. Once you’ve started losing weight, you can be stubborn about sticking to your diet plan, and with good reason!

In a Nutshell:

One “negative” personality trait does not define who you are, nor does it determine your ability to live a healthy life. In fact, personality traits are only as negative as you let them be – either you conquer them or they’ll conquer you; the choice is yours. No matter what kind of personality you have, you can always make it work in your favor if you take the time to change your ways. Don’t let anyone tell you that your personality will doom your diet plan because that it completely untrue. Instead, focus on making your personality work to your advantage.