“Two years ago you were healthier,” one friend told me the other day. “Petya, you’re getting thinner and thinner. I’d like to give you a couple of kilograms,” the friend sighed. “Look how fat your face is in these photos,” the colleague laughs. What is your relationship with weight? Look! From culture to culture, from person to person, the opinion about your, yes, your optimal weight and appearance in general changes. Some need appetizing forms, others need the first number, others are indifferent to the external, the internal content is more important. What and/or who should we focus on when it comes to weight? The other day I listened to a lecture on cognitive behavioral therapy for obesity. I remembered how, years ago, self-doubt dragged me to the gym to pump up my muscles. I remembered how I tried to gain weight for the sake of my beloved corpulent girl! I remembered how there was an overweight client! And I realized... Now I feel good: active, active, healthy. That's the whole guideline in weight - my personal feelings. I know those who ask my family and friends behind my back if everything is okay with me? “Somehow he’s lost weight,” they seem to worry. People don’t realize that it’s possible to reduce weight to the optimal level without diets and physical torture. The only thing is that I maintain physical activity every day (more than 10,000 steps per day) and do stretching and pranayama (yoga) - this is a pleasure, it’s already a habit. And losing excess weight (in Russia, just over 40% as of April 2022) – this is also a question of willpower. The psychologist here helps with the cognitive sphere and obstacles in the form of attitudes: I must eat more, I will never lose weight, Fat protects me from relationships... and so on. The psychologist also helps with motivation and adherence to a diet, sleep, and physical activity schedule. After all, this is work, these are really new habits in thinking and behavior. If a specialist teaches you and you begin to practice mindfulness in the style of mindfulness, then over time you will eat as much as you need. And not so that extra pounds scare away potential partners (if you are afraid of relationships), protect you from potential hunger, since you don’t know any other pleasure... Also, a psychologist will help with self-esteem and self-confidence. Agree, focusing on other people’s opinions about your weight can undermine your mental health. Choose yourself and healthy for you! Who do you focus on in the matter of personal body weight? Happiness! Sincerely, Pyotr Galigarov, practicing psychologist. Write if you need support!