The Weighty Matter
of Energy Management

by Anet Paulina

I have often quipped that the easiest way to gain weight is to try to lose it, and the easiest way to lose weight is to try to gain it. This has been true in my experience. While I’ve never been overweight by conventional standards, there have been times when I wanted to lose a few pounds, and other times when I needed to gain a few. Putting myself on a restrictive diet typically had the effect of making me want to eat every five minutes. When I was too thin and tried to make myself eat more, I often lost my appetite completely.

Pondering the energetic implications of this phenomenon, it was easy for me to recognize that denying the impulse to eat (or do anything else) would have the opposite effect of creating the pressure of unexpressed energy, which eventually would have to be expressed in some manner (perhaps as binge eating, a shopping spree, or some other out-of-control behavior).

The reason for losing my appetite when trying to gain weight, however, was less obvious. Was I, perhaps, denying an impulse not to eat? The theory sounded logical but didn’t feel right. I didn’t really have an impulse not to eat; it would be more accurate to say that I was trying to force myself to do something I didn’t feel like doing because I thought I should. And that sounded suspiciously like…forcing energy.

Forcing energy is, essentially, the opposite of denying one’s impulses, which could also be described as “restricting the natural flow of energy.” Carrying the concept further, it dawned on me that most of the difficulties we experience in life can be attributed to either restricting or forcing against our natural flow of energy. Unfortunately, most of us have been trained since early childhood to both restrict and force our energy expressions to conform to what society has deemed acceptable and preferable. The unnatural management of our energy is so ubiquitous that it has come to seem normal to us.

Habitual forcing of energy can lead to physical disorders such as muscle and joint injuries, elevated blood pressure, and in extreme cases, cerebral hemorrhage. A man I know whose way of life involved forcing energy (he was a chiropractor known for giving vigorous spinal adjustments) eventually had a stroke. A significant part of his recovery involved learning to honor his natural energy flow. Due to the brain injury sustained from the ruptured blood vessel, when he would start to force energy, he would feel physical pain in his head.

Depression can be the result of habitually repressing one’s energy to the point that restriction becomes an automatic response. Manic-depression (bipolar disorder) occurs when the repressed energy can no longer be contained. Essentially, the dam bursts, and the held energy flows with great force. Once it has been expressed, the person starts restricting their energy again, perpetuating the cycle. Energy-wise, bipolar disorder is similar to irritable bowel syndrome, in which a person’s digestive system alternately goes to extremes. It’s no coincidence that diagnoses of both disorders have risen markedly in recent years.

How does one recognize when they are restricting or forcing their energy? Restriction often is revealed by hesitation: you have an impulse to act, but stop yourself before proceeding. When I feel drawn to do something, but (typically out of fear or inertia) start fabricating excuses and rationalizations as to why I cannot or should not follow through, it’s a good indication that I’m restricting my energy.

Noticing when I am forcing energy can be a bit more tricky. Since I have a habit of confining my energy, sometimes I have to push myself at first to break free of inertia. But once that initial push is done, I should feel myself easily moving forward. If it continues to feel like I’m slogging through mud, that means I’m forcing my energy. People who do not habitually restrict their energy may simply notice when it feels like they are forcing themselves to do something they don’t feel like doing.

To return to where we started, weight management is actually energy management. The key to maintaining a balanced weight is to allow yourself to eat what you want, when you want; enjoy it without self-recrimination; and notice and follow your body’s impulses that tell you when you’ve had enough. The key to a balanced life is to do what you want, when you want; enjoy it without self-recrimination, and stop when you’ve had enough. Simple, isn’t it?