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Who used to cross stitch--raise your hand! I used to cross stitch a lot. I had a little pillow that had this rhyme on it (I forced my sister make it for me!)

I like me.

I like me, being what no one else can be.

Yes, I like me.

Some of my recent healthy living/weight loss/weight maintenance blog reading made me start to wonder--what if “self-acceptance” is a key component when it comes to long-term weight loss maintenance?

The National Weight Control Registry is often quoted by the experts as the definitive gathering of information on what it takes to maintain weight loss. I am a member of that society, so I know the questions they ask to gather this information. They don’t ask any questions about your psyche. I think that they would say that, as scientists, that kind of data is hard to quantify. Its simpler to say things like:

▪ 78% eat breakfast every day.

▪ 75% weigh themselves at least once a week.

▪ 62% watch less than 10 hours of TV per week.

▪ 90% exercise, on average, about 1 hour per day.

But it seems to me, in all my reading, that the people who have been successful at maintaining their weight loss either went into it already thinking well of themselves, or else they did a lot of work during the weight loss or after they reached “goal” on self-acceptance, or “liking themselves.”

Anyway, its just something to think about, whether you are starting on your weight loss journey, or you are “maintaining.” Do you like yourself?

To read more of my thoughts about maintaining your weight loss for the long term, click here.