Let's talk LIFE: I need to lose weight

Dear Counsellor,

I am overweight and would like to lose weight. I have tried various diet programmes without much help.

- Angela

Dear Angela,

Weight problems can be very worrying and a vicious cycle is set up where an individual eats, worries, then eats some more.

We all need to be at an ideal weight and so need to try to achieve it. For weight loss, we need to look at our nutrition, emotions, and activities. A sedentary lifestyle with no exercise programme will cause individuals to gain weight or prevent them from losing weight. Walk for half an hour each day and you will keep fit.

You need to eat the right foods all the time. You need to work with a dietician, a trainer, and a therapist. Many of us are carrying the past like an atlas on our heads. We feel guilty, angry, and resentful about our past and this causes some of us to eat a lot. We need to make peace with our past and let go of these feelings and move forward. A therapist can help you to look at the various issues facing you. Many times things happened to us and we couldn't prevent it.

We need to accept that most things are beyond our control and forgive ourselves and let go of the guilt and anger. Our spirituality is important as we need to have a personal relationship with God. What has happened in the past is in the past, and we need to learn to let go and move on with our lives.

Weight loss is possible and you need to strive for this. There are medical causes of obesity as well as complications associated with obesity. You need to see your doctor to assess your overall health.

Sleep problems

Dear Counsellor,

I have great difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. I have tried a variety of sleep aids without much help.

- Margaret

Dear Margaret,

Sleep is one of the essential activities for good quality of life. You need to get enough rest to feel refreshed in the morning. Make a sleep diary for five days and make entries as to when you go to sleep and when you wake up.

Also make entries as to how you feel each morning. Capture your thoughts each evening as to what you are worrying about. Worry can interfere with your sleep pattern. Worry keeps people occupied and on their toes. This can be good as it can cause the person to be sharp at whatever he or she is doing. However, too much worry can interfere with one's functioning. Too much of something can be bad.

Sleep problems can be treated, so speak to your doctor about getting good sleep at night. Do you work on shift? Shift work can interfere with one's sleep pattern.

Email questions and feedback for Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson to yvonniebd@hotmail.com or call 978-8602.