Visualization for Weight Loss -The Gabriel Method

Part IV: Positive Forces that Make Your Body Want to Be Thin

The very first acute stress was the stress of running away from a predator—the “fight or flight” response. Studies show that peri- odic acute stresses turn off the FAT Programs. 6 Become an Adrenaline Junkie One of the best-known phenomena associated with fight or flight is the adrenaline rush—that feeling of excited euphoria that makes you feel, “Whoa! I’m glad I survived that!” Thrill seekers are “adrenalin junkies,” or people who are hooked on the feeling of an adrenaline rush. Have you ever noticed that thrill seekers are usually thin? This is because thrills are acute stresses that cause the same kind of adrenalin surge that we would get if a lion were chasing us. Activities like bungee jumping or parachuting cause the same kind of heart-pounding, emergency response. Our bodies assume that a predator is chasing us, that we must be living in an envi- ronment where danger is lurking, and therefore, we must be thin in order to survive. Of course, these are extreme examples, but anything that excites you or makes you feel alive can be useful for creating that ideal stress. Other good examples include balloon rides, fer- ris wheels, roller-coaster rides, and paint ball. Taking a cold shower works too. Events that make you feel a little nervous will also do the trick, like giving a presentation. You may be nervous at first and during your speech, but afterwards you may feel relieved, or even exhilarated and euphoric. A perfect example of how thrill seeking can make your body want to be thin is Jack Osbourne, son of famed rocker Ozzie Osbourne and star of the reality TV show The Osbournes . Jack fell in love with rock climbing and lost fifty-five pounds in just a few months time. His immediate transformation clearly demon- strates the effectiveness of thrill seeking for connecting to that primal instinct that makes your body want to be thin. Get Your Brain to Interpret Stress the Right Way Use the everyday stresses of your life to your advantage; you can turn a bad stress into a good stress. The next time you’re at the

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