Purpose and Meaning Yields Weight Loss by DC Metro Area Dietitian Kay Loughrey

Identifying what gives your life purpose and meaning and how that relates to weight loss is something that can help yield weight loss. The journey of weight loss is definitely not easy. It may be hard to know where to start or how to keep going. With this in mind, here are a couple of ideas and recommendations to help you get started so you can link your weight loss to what gives your life purpose and meaning and be more successful.

Infuse Your Life With Joy:

It can be easy to find simple things that can take your life from a daily grind to simply divine! Exploring what truly motivates us through weight loss can be rooted from what we believe the meaning and purpose of our weight loss journey. As you seek joy and purpose, try looking beyond food, especially if you may find food to be a substitute for what really matters in life. Make a list of things that you find brings you joy, whether it be a past hobby or something that currently brings you joy. Although eating is highly pleasurable, we know that what we eat is not at the core of  what gives our life meaning.

What Does Losing Weight Mean To You?

Why do you want to lose weight now? Write down 5 main reasons as to why you want to begin this journey along with short statements that capture what is most important to you about weight loss. Those reasons can stem from numerous topics such as better health, improved appearance, enhanced relationships, well being etc. This exercise can help determine the true and deep rooted reason to your weight loss journey which can yield the weight loss process.

What Gives Your Life Meaning?

Take a moment to reflect on your life and what goals give your life meaning. How will your purpose and life meaning be able to develop further due to weight loss? Use the following questions to aid in your reflection to help understand purpose in life and in your own personal journey:

  1. Which childhood dreams do you still long to fulfill?
  2. What relationships have you longed to cultivate?
  3. What do you want to learn, experience, or accomplish before life’s end?
  4. How do you want to contribute to others and to the greater good as part of your life’s purpose? What legacy do you want to leave behind?
  5. How will losing weight support your ability to live your higher purpose?

Identifying our purpose and life meaning is a great way to help get a deeper understanding of why we want to lose weight and help yield the weight loss process. Contact your nutritionist on how to yield your weight loss journey using your personal purpose and meaning!

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Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN
Transformational Speaker, Breakthrough Coach, Nutritionist-Dietitian

Lana Shahine
Nutrition & Food Science – Dietetics
University of Maryland, College Park | 2023