How to Lose Weight Series – Heal Thyself

As an adolescent, I always wanted to be part of the healthcare industry, part of the healing process, part of touching lives. It seemed to me an incredible gift to offer health, comfort and solace to another and I must confess even revered for the timely assistance. This interest had its beginnings in my visits to doctors in small clinics that were present in the era of the good ol’ general physicians in Mumbai. My tendency when unwell as a kid, was to rush to the doctor for the tiniest ailment, as if just meeting up with the doctor would cure me. Retrospectively, I am not too sure if my getting well was just natural course of the body being able to get back in shape, the superiority of the physicians skill or my unflinching faith in the physician or a combination.

In today’s world of super specialization, we expect the doctor in a 10 minute session to know you, understand your body, ask the right questions, diagnose the issue and dole out magic portions to ensure that you are up and about in a day or two. I think that this approach is too much of a responsibility being conferred upon the physician and quite unrealistic. Maybe “WE” need to take up more responsibility of understanding our own body better. Learn its language of what it is telling us, be loving, gentle and patient with it, like we would be to our children.

Consider this scenario — Sam has been having symptoms of tiredness, and headaches for a week. Instead of rushing to the doctor as a first step and then popping pills, wouldn’t it be nicer to go to a quiet place like a room in one’s house and close ones eyes and analyze what could have gone wrong in the last week to burden the body?

Analyze if it is the body that is hurting or is it the mind or the heart that is actually aching. Is our mind unable to stop thinking even while resting? Is it that we are not at peace with people who are dear to us? Were we extremely difficult on ourselves by not congratulating ourselves on our smallest achievements or were we being pushy with ourselves by having goals that are so lofty that only Spiderman/ Batman can achieve them?

We probably need to ask ourselves questions like – what has been our schedule in the past week, has it allowed our body adequate rest of 7 hours sleep, 8–9 glasses of water a day, healthy meals on time? What kind of meals have we been eating, how are we consuming this? Are we exercising enough? Am I loving myself enough? What kind of literature are we allowing our minds to read and dwell upon?

You might just be surprised how being aware of your truest deepest feelings, honest acknowledgement of your limitations, will help you diagnose the possible cause of your ailment. Go on..take the prescription pad write down your treatment and allow yourself time to heal after you fix the issues that you are now aware of. It will be great to share your findings with your confidante, so they can help you keep track of following your prescription as well. If you are still not fine, you can then seek counsel.

I have noticed a set of my so- called medical symptoms seem to vanish with some introspection and a basic combination of eat, sleep, pray, love.

Love Thyself. Heal Thyself.