This blog about weight loss is in response to Jarod’s post below. Many people have had difficulty losing and they have tried everything; all sorts of diets, supplements, exercise, fasting, and on and on and nothing seems to work or last.
Attempting to lose weight can be very frustrating. Jarod had asked if there is possibility of an emotional component from long ago that may be sabotaging people. The answer to Jarod’s question is yes. What often happens is there was an event that occurred early on in our lives where there was an emotional or physical trauma which was overwhelming. We tend to bury the feelings/emotions in the subconscious level. This creates a trigger which can interfere with our ability to cope with the situation. The mind/body then creates a mechanism by which it copes and it often can lead to problems with weight, alcohol, drugs, and any type of excessive behavior. Often times a compulsion develops because the body/mind complex is trying to anesthetize itself, so it doesn’t feel this inner fear or pain that came from a past event.
It seems that the subconscious can cause a person to carry excess weight, almost as a protective mechanism. Once the subconscious has lost the fear from the past event, then the body can start to function normally again. You don’t feel that urge to overeat and you go back to a more instinctual pattern of eating. I liken it to a pregnant women who instinctively eats something because their body is requesting (“craving”) it. As the mind/body complex heals itself, you are able to go back to a more instinctive way of living where you are now eating the right food for yourself in the appropriate amounts.
There are many programs that are designed to promote weight loss and/or designed to help with compulsive behaviors. Though these programs are well intentioned, many of them are only providing coping strategies, and are not getting to the root of the problem. So it’s not that you shouldn’t go through some of these programs, because they may benefit some people. However, often times, Myofascial Release turns out to be the missing link, not only with pain and the restoration of motion, but also getting to the root cause of these compulsions that too many of us are saddled with in our lives.
Myofascial Release allows the person to safely reconnect with this information that is buried in the subconscious. The mind/body then processes this hidden information and resolves the problem so it no longer has to cope. Then a healthy, balanced diet, exercise, and all of the other complementary things that are important to us to be healthy, begin to work effectively for that individual. In fact, through the Myofascial Unwinding 1, we see many people after they have gone through their healing process, end up losing a lot of weight, without making any other major changes. And at that point, adding exercise and a proper diet becomes more effective than it was previously. You are then able to return to a more balanced and joyful way of living again and eliminate compulsions and/or coping behaviors.
Sincerely, John
1 For more information about the process of Myofascial Unwinding please refer to my book, Healing Ancient Wounds: A Renegade’s Wisdom, on page 73.
(http://www.myofascialrelease.com/store/books.asp).
Below is the post from Jared Egol:
Dear John,
Foremost, thank you for everything. I am a newcomer to Myofascial Release techniques who at the age of 23 has accumulated numerous conditions I believe MFR can help with. But my question involves something else:
While out here (moved to Orange County from South Florida for graduate school) the past two months I realized that I have an eating disorder and subsequently joined Overeaters Anonymous (OA), where their twelve-step program attempts - through abstinence and spiritual/emotional interactions - to detoxify the fear and resentment and other character defects, thus rendering us recovered in all arenas. It’s basically an emotional overhaul that yields many latent tears, much like your fascia work.
While I agree with much of what the program offers, I still haven’t been convinced that this is the only way to construct a healthy life free of addiction.
My question then is likely obvious at this juncture, almost rhetorical, but nonetheless:
What effects have you seen on addiction in Myofascial Release? Can the catharses inherent to the treatment be so powerful that they enable a repositioning of our coping mechanisms, so that clients are able to rid themselves of old habits?
Or are other modalities (OA, AA, NA, etc.) suggested as an auxiliary to the MFR?
I’m sure they can’t hurt, and I’m sure that despite whatever success I have with MFR, I will still find time to go to meetings (many healthy friendships have been made!).
But because I find it thoroughly difficult, if not impossible, to proceed with the program as it’s designed (Reason being I cannot stop overeating. I am conscious of its emotional element, but the program demands abstinence from toxic foods that I am having trouble breaking), I feel a teleological quandary arises, that maybe treatment can be had to evolve the change in my eating without first harping on spiritual defects that need remedy.
In my gut I feel MFR will work and OA would only enhance the permanence and altogether maintenance. Truthfully, I believe they’re the same thing in many ways, and wished to hear your thoughts large and small.
After stumbling upon your numerous articles that regard the fascia as an emotional repository and explain the subsequent symptoms, I have regained hope about many things that should be far from lost at my young age. I will begin treatment in
Costa Mesa, CA as soon as I am able to acquire the funds. Again, thank you so much for your help(s).
Jared Egol
1 response so far ↓
Jared Egol // Nov 3rd 2008 at 12:48 pm
John,
Thanks for your response, though after reading your book “Healing Ancient Wounds” I had found my question thoroughly answered. I am in my third week of MFR treatment with a student of yours, Karen Bauman, and look forward to true healing.
Thank You.
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