Introduction to Triggers Going for the 3 Increases: Increase in Health, Increase in Happiness & Increase in Energy

1. Introduction to TriggersGoing for the 3 Increases: Increase in Health, Increase in Happiness & Increase in Energy Strategies for Success in Weight Management By: James J. Messina, Ph.D.

2. Overcoming Triggers to Relapse • What are triggers to relapse • The many faces of triggers which derail us • How to identify them when they are happening • What to do to overcome such triggers • How to insure that triggers lose their power to derail in the future

3. 1. Possible Triggers while in program • Disillusionment with the program • Fear that complete change will never come • Anger at the slowness of change • Discouragement at the size of change (amount of weight loss, rate of weight loss, etc.) • Disbelief that to sustain the changed behavior requires a change in lifestyle • Use of excessive rationalization as to why it is impossible for you to implement the full program at this point in your life • Claims that you have no time to work on the necessary changes

4. 2. Possible Triggers while in program • Feeling as if you are facing a life of deprivation rather than feeling good about how full your life will be once you have implemented the lifestyle change • Feeling that this takes too much effort, time, and money for the results • Lacking in motivation to continue in your program of change • Wanting to abandon your time-management schedule because it feels too demanding and intrusive • Wishing you had never started this program of change

5. 3. Possible Triggers while in program • Faultfinding with the professional staff and fellow members in the program • Looking for something wrong with the program, fellow members, or staff to justify your quitting • Feeling bored or overwhelmed with the efforts needed to make the change in your life • Not liking the "new'' you; feeling that the "old'' you wasn't so bad, was easier to live with, was happier, was funnier, etc.

6. 4. Possible Triggers While in Program • Fearful of others' newly found interest in you when before they ignored, shunned, or barely tolerated you • Not really convinced of a need for change in your life • Just wanting to achieve an end goal of change (healthy relationship with food, weight management and exercise program), and not wanting to change your lifestyle for full recovery • Resentment that lifestyle changes require so much restructuring of your time, social support, and personal habits

7. Some Sources of Triggers • Personal feelings and emotions at any time of day or night • Times of days: on scale, meal times, work, driving etc… • Times of year: vacations, holidays, anniversaries • Words or attitudes of self or others • Advertisements on TV, Radio, Billboards, Stores related to your trigger issues • TV, Movies, Radio, Songs, Shows, with story lines related to your trigger issues

8. Watch Out for Emotional Triggers: • Lack of commitment to change • Lack of motivation • Depression over the difficulty • Boredom over the repetitious monotony • Denial • Discouragement • Anger • Suspicion • Overwhelmed • Resentful

9. Be on the Look out for Other Sources of Triggers • Emotional Status • Irrational Belief System • Habitual Ways of Acting and Believing • Value System • Peer Pressure • Overabundance of Choices • Sense of Prosperity • Propaganda • Conspicuous Consumption