Treat your Weight Loss Journey as a Healing Journey

The last 10 kilos I lost, (making a total of 25 kilos / 50 pounds lost) weren’t some effortless, smooth achievement! They were pushed out of me by pain (check out the post HERE)

My body had been screaming, showing me in every way it could that things needed to change.

I couldn’t possibly continue to feel the way I was so I made that happen. 

I feel great now and a little while back I took some photos as way to track my progress. They were just for my eyes only, but then a part of me thought, If this can inspire even one person to create healthy change, it’s worth sharing them on social media.

Eventually, with hands that felt like they were made of jelly, I hit “share” on insta. 

Then the comments poured in. Beautiful words, thoughtful messages, people telling me that my story inspired them to take action on their health. 

Seeing women moved to make a difference in their own lives, I felt grateful and reassured that sharing this journey was the right call.

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Then something unexpected happened.… Fear crept in. 

You know the kind: What if I slip back? What if all the progress unravels - I 'd feel like I was living a lie? And the big one, am I really worthy of this change and the beautiful words from others? 

Suddenly, that fear started tightening around me, covering my vision, my reasons and my purpose.

I felt like my vision and the vibration of that vision was surrounded by a thick fog, it was blurry, heavy and so small I could hardly see it any more let alone feel it in my body. It was like it had been stolen from me but why!!!

I found myself reaching for the foods I’d once walked right past without a second thought. I had been sucked straight back into operating from fear, doubt, pain and lack. The vibration, the frequency of this was showing up in my every thought, feeling and action. I was back to the old struggling inner-teenager part of me feeling, helpless against my actions and the world. 

 To me this is a beautiful awareness to have, because I have the tools to overcome this, so I knew what to work on - but NOT everyone does, which is why I decided to share the "behind the scenes" to my health journey.

Just last week, I wrote about the power of self-talk and how it can be the difference-maker see HERE and the week before I wrote about the power of a vision See HERE

Consider today's article Part 3: yet now we’re diving deeper, from words to embodiment, to the feeling itself and what happens when we move back to fear, doubt and unworthiness, the old identity imprints. 

How do I get back to that place of confidently saying "NO" to what doesn’t serve me?

In my Mindful Eating Mastery Course, I always say, “Ask the right question, and you’ll be guided to an empowering answer.” So I did.

I discovered that weight loss journeys need to be treated as a healing journey.

So many unhealed, hurting or disowned parts of us surface when we're looking to create inner and outer change.

In my over-a-decade of helping people lose weight in traditional weight loss programs this was truly the missing link and is what inspired me to delve deep into the mind, emotions and even the pain body for answers. This is now what I've been doing for the past decade.

I believe so many more people would be empowered to lose weight and actually keep it off if they treated their weight loss journey like a healing journey and not just a series of restrictive diets or quick fixes.

When we approach it as healing, it becomes about nurturing, listening, and reconnecting with our bodies and nature (our inner and outer nature), rather than punishing or depriving ourselves.

It’s a process of aligning with our deeper needs, addressing the root causes, and cultivating lasting change from a place of self-respect and compassion.

This week, I’m sharing what I found out about living through the lens of pain versus the lens of potential.

So let’s first look at Pain.

Pain Pushes Until Your Vision Pulls

I always share with my coaching clients we make decisions based on these 2 things only.

To avoid Pain or Seek Pleasure. It sounds basic but that’s how the brain works. It was to keep you safe, by any means possible. 

Pain as the Initial Driver

In life, pain often forces us to move. It could be physical pain, emotional struggles, dissatisfaction, or simply the feeling that things aren’t where they need to be. 

Pain has a way of getting our attention, doesn’t it? When you’re unhappy with your job, for example, every day feels like it’s nudging you towards the door, giving you that underlying sense of, “I need a change.” 

This is pain pushing you, reminding you that something isn’t aligned and urging you to do something about it.

Without some level of discomfort, we often wouldn’t have a reason to change. But it’s important to realise that pain isn’t meant to be the only driving force. 

Imagine a car that only works if it’s being pushed from behind. It’s not sustainable, and it’s exhausting. This is where the concept of a vision pulling you forward comes in.

The Power of  a Vision -The Pleasure

A vision is a clear image or feeling of what you want your life to look like, where you feel fulfilled, at peace, or inspired. It could be as simple as envisioning a healthier, more relaxed you, or as big as seeing yourself in a dream career. When you have a vision that truly resonates, it starts to create its own momentum.

Think of it like setting a destination on a GPS. Once you know where you’re going, the journey has direction. You’re no longer moving just to escape pain; instead, you’re moving towards something that feels meaningful, and that’s when things really start to shift. 

Your vision can become so powerful that it starts pulling you forward, reducing the effort it takes to make tough decisions or break out of old patterns.

Then it can switch unexpectedly. We're making progress and then an unknown discomfort fear or doubt arises and then we're back in pain. It's like a roller coaster we need to learn to navigate.

This is where the 3 brains come in:

The Frankenstein vs. Einstein Brain: How to Step into the Person You Want to Be

When was the last time you felt like there are two sides of you when making decisions. one that’s eager to grow and another that’s hesitant, cautious, or even scared? It could be in any area of life not just your weight journey.

John Assaraf describes this as the “Frankenstein Brain” versus the “Einstein Brain.” 

The Frankenstein Brain clings to old habits and familiar patterns, while the Einstein Brain imagines possibilities and steps into the future with confidence. 

This concept gives us insight into how we can transform, not just by changing habits, but by changing who we believe ourselves to be.

But to understand this fully, let’s start by looking at how our brains work on a deeper level. In many ways, our decisions come down to three “brains” or centres: the Reptilian Brain, the Emotional Brain, and the Executive Brain  (ladies who own my Mindful Eating Mastery course will know this from out in-depth lesson on it).

The Three Brains: How They Affect Our Identity

1. The Reptilian Brain
   Think of this as the oldest part of your brain, responsible for basic survival. It handles instinctive reactions—fight, flight, or freeze—and is concerned with safety and comfort above all else. When you feel resistance to change, that’s often your Reptilian Brain’s voice saying, “Let’s stick to what we know.”
2. The Emotional Brain 9 (The Limbic Brain)
   This part processes feelings and is more sophisticated than the Reptilian Brain. It’s where memories, associations, and emotions live. If you’ve ever felt hesitant about taking a leap forward because of past experiences, it’s your Emotional Brain looking out for you, reminding you of times you’ve been hurt or failed before.
3. The Executive Brain (or Prefrontal Cortex)
   This is the “thinking” part of the brain, where logic, planning, and decision-making happen. It’s also the place where we set goals and envision the future, helping us navigate beyond survival and emotions to make choices aligned with our deeper desires. This is where the Einstein Brain comes into play.

Matias De Stefano (a spiritual guide known for his insights into consciousness, ancient wisdom, and multidimensional awareness) calls this the  "holy trinity" of the mammal brain.

He believes that understanding and balancing these aspects is key to achieving harmony, self-awareness, and alignment with higher consciousness. 

Each of these brain components serves a purpose, and recognising their roles can help individuals better manage instincts, emotions, and thought patterns, facilitating healing hence allowing us to step into a new vibration, version of ourselves.

The Frankenstein Brain vs. Einstein Brain

With these three centres in mind, let’s look at the two “brains” .

•  The Frankenstein Brain is a blend of the Reptilian and Emotional Brains. It wants to stay safe, avoid risk, and stick with old patterns. It’s the voice that says, “This isn’t going to work,” “What if you fail?” or “Why change what’s comfortable?” Frankenstein is the part of us tied to our old identity, our stories, who we’ve been and what we’ve done.
•  The Einstein Brain lives in the Executive Brain. It’s the part that dreams, plans, and imagines a better future. It says, “You can grow,” “What if this works?” and “Let’s try!” When we’re operating from this place, we can tap into our highest potential, allowing us to step into the person we want to be, rather than staying in the comfort of who we are. This part of the brain is the visionary.

Shifting from Frankenstein to Einstein: Manifesting the Life You Want

The magic here is that when you start operating from your Einstein Brain, you begin to embody the identity of the person you want to be. 

This is where manifestation comes in. Manifestation is the idea that by envisioning and believing in the person you want to become, you can create that reality.

Here’s how to start moving from Frankenstein to Einstein:

1. Visualise Your Future Self
   Spend time imagining who you want to be, not just in terms of goals but in terms of qualities, habits, and emotions. This isn’t about “faking it”—it’s about shifting your identity. Picture yourself as confident, capable, and resilient.
2. Affirm and Feel Your New Identity
   Use statements like, “I am someone who makes empowering choices” or “I am capable of growth and change.” By affirming and feeling your new identity, you start to convince your brain that this is who you are now.
3. Act as Your Future Self Would Act
   Each time you’re faced with a choice, ask, “What would my future self do?” Operating from this new mindset quiets the Frankenstein Brain and strengthens the Einstein Brain, helping you move toward your goals with ease.
4. Repeat and Reinforce
   Identity shifts don’t happen overnight, but with consistency, you’ll find yourself naturally embodying this new version of you. Every small step reinforces the message that you’re capable of change and growth.

Embracing the Power of Manifestation

By choosing to operate from the Einstein Brain, you’re essentially manifesting a new reality. Manifestation isn’t magic; it’s about aligning your actions, thoughts, and identity with the person you’re becoming. 

When you consistently step into this new identity, you’re not just wishing for change, you’re creating it from the inside out. 

The Frankenstein Brain will always be there, urging you to stay the same, but as your Einstein Brain grows stronger, you’ll find yourself naturally moving toward your goals with courage and purpose.

So, ask yourself: Who do you want to be? And start living from that view point and embodiment of that place today.

This is what happens when we make this shift

To wrap up, I realise now that what I had done was simply let go of the vision. The pain that had fuelled my journey in the beginning had eased, so I started drifting, no longer tethered to the powerful why that first set me in motion. 

But here’s what I’ve come to understand: True transformation isn’t just about pain, and it’s not about a one-time decision. It’s about choosing again and again to connect with the future self I want to embody, the version of me who feels aligned, energised, and grounded in her purpose.

Healing needs to happen for this to unfold. I created a short reel about this recently.

We need to let go of the layers, the old beliefs and stories that no longer serve us. This is a huge part of  what I help my 1:1 coaching clients with SEE HERE on a weekly basis, and as you can see transformed my own life in so many ways. 

When we’re no longer being pushed by pain, we have to consciously pull ourselves forward by that vision. And so I’m coming back to mine, reminding myself daily of the vibrant, healthier self I’m stepping into, not because of what I want to escape, but because of what I’m ready to embrace.

So if you’re on a journey of change, don’t wait for pain to motivate you. Set your vision, hold onto it, and let it pull you forward, even after the discomfort fades. Because, in the end, it’s not about running from something, but about moving toward the life that calls to you. It's about true inner healing which is your evolution.

With much love and bodily wisdom

Larissa xx

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