How high is your self-confidence right now? If you rated yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10), 1 being “extremely low in self-confidence” and 10 “fully self-confident”, how would you rate yourself?

As a result of my experience of working with clients who are overweight, I can guess that if you are overweight and are reading this article, you rate fairly low on the scale. Being overweight or obese affects our realistic perception of ourselves and our abilities. The negative side effects of being overweight can be found in your self-doubt, dependence, taking things too personally, lack of trust, feelings of inferiority and being unloved and often irresponsible behavior, followed with severe self- criticism and low self-worth.

Everyone wants to be self-confident. Everyone wants to be free of self-doubt, worry and anxiety, everyone wants to ooze with the infectious appeal that comes with self-confidence and everyone wants to trust and believe in themselves. What do you need to change about yourself to have all of this? Weight, I believe is just the physical manifestation of what the real issue is. I believe the answer lies in the words of Ezra Taft Benson: “Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.” What is your battle? Are you willing to put fear aside for now and challenge your demons?

Take that first step and change your life for good. Promise yourself not to be a victim of your weight from this moment on and mean it. Right now, call a friend, join a support group, educate yourself on healthy weight loss, find a coach or talk to your family and friends, but get rid of your victim-based thinking and take charge of your body, your mind and your soul. Try something new. Look at your past weight loss and personal history. Look at your patterns and do not judge them, but see it all as an important part of the learning process. What you can do is change those patterns and start life anew from today. Focus on what you can do right now to be successful in your weight loss for good and take steps in that direction.

Become your own best supporter and do whatever it takes. I am willing to bet on the fact that you will move further and further up along the scale of self-confidence with each step you take. Lastly, ask yourself these questions and take action on them, whatever your answers may be:

What would I need to do to move up on the scale of self-confidence?

What would I need to change?

What can I do which I am not doing now?

What would my first step need to be?

Put fear side, commit yourself to change and take that first step today.