Diet By Numbers
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‘The No Diet, Diet.’
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Diet By Numbers
Diet By Numbers. It is, to be honest, very simple, but often, clients have reported back to me just how helpful they found it. You may initially think it a very unusual, maybe weird, weight loss intervention, but I guarantee it can be worth its weight in gold for those people reading this who really want to lose weight. So stick with it; you only need to give it five minutes.
It’s all about putting a number on it or assigning a value to a situation or event. I understand if you think it sounds a little strange, but stay with me and give it a go. If you have a spare minute to drop me an email, I would be interested to hear how you found the approach, regardless of whether your thoughts are positive or negative. There’s a contact link at the bottom of the page.
So, firstly, for this technique to seamlessly become a part of your everyday routine, it would help if you had an understanding of our upgraded version of CBT, Pause Button Therapy. You can, if you wish, read a dedicated page about PBT in the blogs section of this site. But for now, all you need to know is that PBT is all about consequences and delaying your decision-making. The therapy asks you to acknowledge that everything you do, say, or think in life has a consequence. You may not like it, but it is a fact.
So, to make this as effortless as possible, you need to adopt the main principle of PBT. That is based on you having an imaginary remote control in your pocket, similar to one people would use to control their DVD players. One that you can press at any time and pause or freeze time. So, as an example, someone unexpectedly says to you: “Hi Sue! Do you fancy coming out for a pizza and bottle of wine tonight?”. But what if you are on a diet and really trying to focus and lose weight for your upcoming holiday to Ibiza…? So, for now, press pause, freeze time and think of the consequences of the action you are about to take because there will be consequences.
Press pause for a minute, and think how much you are looking forward to wearing the fantastic new swimsuit on the beach that you have just brought. How good will you feel walking around the streets and bars of Ibiza at night with your friends, all commenting on just how amazing you look because you are at your target weight? So now, go on, close your eyes for a second, and really see yourself in that situation. Between 1 and 10, what value would you put on the pleasure and emotions you are experiencing? Or, of course, you could pop out tonight for a Pizza and a Bottle of wine with your friend. That choice may reverse or at least delay your weight loss plan a little, but again, close your eyes, think about it, and put a number on it between 1 and 10. So who won, Ibiza or the Pizza…
Pizza or Ibiza
Being able to press pause and take maybe just a few seconds to think about the consequences of your actions and the answer you are about to give allows you to consider if saying yes will take you closer to, or further away from, your goals. So press pause, and think for a minute, then reply with your decision. Diet By Numbers.
If I was ever caught out by someone asking me a question, like the Pizza and bottle of wine scenario described above, then to buy myself a few seconds, I used to tell a little white lie. As an example, I would tell them that I just needed to answer a quick text message. “Give me one minute…” Then, whilst I just sat and looked at a blank screen, I used the time to consider my options the consequences and what would be the best outcome for me in the long term. Then I would make my decision. Like me, you will not always get it right, but at least you are now thinking about it instead of making random decisions.
Let me use a very real personal example. We were planning a ten-day holiday to Dubrovnik. In a perfect world, I would really like to have lost all, or most of, my ‘Covid’ weight gain before we went. It was our first holiday since the ‘lockdown and Covid situation’, so, to be honest, I was at the time really looking forward to going; it had been a while…
So let me put a number, a value, on the thought of getting on the aircraft on day one at my target weight. How good that would feel! I can think about what clothes I am going to pack, and also about what new clothes I want to buy to take with me. We can and do think about the weather, the beach, and the rooftop cocktail bar, along with all the other positive thoughts and emotions that float to the surface whenever I find myself daydreaming about the planned trip and holidays in general.
So, what number from 1 to 10 would I put on it? How important is it to me? How good do I think the experience will be? In all honesty, I am going to give it a 10.
Now, if a friend asked us to go out tonight, maybe to an Italian restaurant for a pizza and a bottle of red wine, I would just stop, take a breath, and put a number on it. The thought of going out, to be honest, is appealing. However, I would rate the food, the experience, and the effect on my soon-to-arrive holiday and give it a score a number. So, if it were higher than a 9.5, then I would go, but if not, I would decline. I give everything a value: a piece of chocolate, a sandwich, a glass of wine… Everything goes through my ‘number cruncher’, after which I make my decision. After you have done it a few times, it takes just seconds.
Where does it go wrong? The answer is ‘Instant vs Delayed Gratification’. We want everything now, not tomorrow, and that is a significant problem for those wishing to lose weight. The majority of overweight individuals can be described as being Present Hedonistic: “I want the pleasurable experience, and I want it right now”. Diet By Numbers.
You see, the pleasure from the offered evening of pizza and red wine would be almost instant; right now, tonight, I can almost taste it. But in contrast, the pleasure of arriving in Dubrovnik and walking through the airport enjoying my holiday at my target weight, however good that feeling would be, is a full eight weeks away. So, is it pleasure now, instant gratification, that wins your vote? Or do you wait until later so you can enjoy the delayed gratification instead? You need to make a choice because the reality is that you probably can’t have both!
It’s not easy because our brains are almost hard-wired to go for instant pleasure, instant gratification. It’s a bit like that often-quoted, old phrase, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”. Except, of course, in this case and many others, it’s not true. The pleasure you would experience from the dopamine flooding around the brain from the pizza and wine would last for a very short period of time, maybe less than an hour. In contrast, the pleasure of arriving at your target weight and that well-planned holiday may well last a lifetime.
I remember being on a course once where it was presented differently. If you asked a 25-year-old person to stop smoking, telling them they could add, say, five healthy years to their life if they did so, what would you expect the response to be? Something like: “What! Give up the pleasure of smoking now to gain a few five years in 40 years’ time; it’s not worth it”. But ask a man of 65 with terminal cancer in his hospital bed what he would do to receive twelve more healthy months to enjoy with his family and friends, he would tell you: “Absolutely anything!!!” Instant versus delayed gratification in a nutshell.
The Science Behind Assigning Numbers to Choices
Assigning numbers to choices, as described in the “Diet By Numbers” approach, is rooted in the principles of behavioural psychology. It is a concept that links directly to the psychology of decision-making and the interplay between instant gratification and delayed gratification. Understanding Delayed Gratification. The ability to delay gratification is a crucial component of achieving long-term goals, including weight loss. Research has shown that individuals who can resist immediate rewards for more substantial, delayed ones tend to have better self-control and a higher likelihood of achieving their objectives.
The Marshmallow Test. One classic experiment illustrating delayed gratification is the famous “Marshmallow Test.” In this study, children were offered a choice: they could either eat the marshmallow placed in front of them immediately, or they could wait for a while and receive two marshmallows. The findings showed that children who went for immediate pleasure had a diminished life quality years later. However, the children who showed a level of control of delayed gratification and waited for the larger reward exhibited better life outcomes in various areas, including health and education.
Neuroscience and Instant vs. Delayed Gratification
Neuroscience plays a role in understanding the challenge of making choices between instant and delayed gratification. When we face immediate rewards, such as the pleasure of eating a delicious meal, our brain’s reward system, particularly the release of dopamine, gets activated, leading to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. It is important to note that the elevation in dopamine levels in the brain happens just at the thought of the pleasure that is about to come.
However, the brain’s ability to evaluate long-term rewards is a more complex process. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for higher-level thinking, assesses the consequences of our actions. This is where assigning numbers or values to choices becomes essential. Making Informed Decisions. By quantifying the value of an action or choice using a numerical scale, you’re essentially forcing yourself to assess its consequences consciously. This empowers you to make more informed and rational decisions rather than being swayed by the immediate pleasure a choice might offer.
Diet By Numbers
Practical Application in Everyday Life. Applying the “Diet By Numbers” concept to everyday life, particularly when making dietary choices, can be transformative. It encourages you to think not only about the immediate satisfaction of a food choice but also about how it aligns with your long-term goals. For example, when you face the temptation of an indulgent dessert, you can press pause, give it a number value, and evaluate if the momentary pleasure is worth potentially hindering your progress toward your weight loss goal.
Mastering the Art of Delayed Gratification. Recognising that our brains are naturally inclined toward instant gratification, learning to assign numbers to choices can be a valuable tool. It allows you to strengthen your ability to delay gratification and opt for choices that are more aligned with your weight loss objectives. Diet By Numbers.
Incorporating this technique into a comprehensive weight loss program, such as the award-winning My Weigh Less Course, can significantly enhance your chances of long-term success. By practising the “Diet By Numbers” approach, you’re not just making decisions based on momentary desires; you’re making choices that lead to lasting positive outcomes for your health and well-being.
So, take a moment and reflect on how you can apply this innovative approach not only to your weight loss journey but to other areas of your life. Give it a try, and you may be pleasantly surprised at the impact it can have on your ability to make healthier choices and reach your weight loss goals more effectively.
Our Top Faqs
Answer: The psychological basis for assigning numbers to food choices is grounded in the principles of cognitive psychology and decision-making. It’s a way to engage the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s centre for rational thinking and planning, in assessing the consequences of our choices. This approach forces individuals to think beyond immediate gratification and consider the long-term impact of their dietary decisions.
Answer: Instant gratification, such as enjoying a delicious meal, triggers the release of dopamine in the brain’s reward system, leading to feelings of pleasure. In contrast, the brain’s evaluation of delayed gratification is a more complex process. It involves the prefrontal cortex, which assesses the future consequences of actions and often requires rational and conscious decision-making.
Answer: Yes, assigning numbers can help individuals overcome the inclination for instant gratification. It engages the cognitive aspects of decision-making, making individuals more aware of the trade-offs between immediate pleasure and long-term goals. By quantifying the value of choices, they can make more rational and goal-aligned decisions.
Answer: Delayed gratification is closely related to successful weight loss. Individuals who can resist instant, but often unhealthy, food choices in favour of long-term health and fitness goals tend to have better weight loss outcomes. This skill empowers them to make healthier dietary decisions and maintain their desired weight. Diet By Numbers.
Answer: Yes, there are scientific studies supporting the effectiveness of delayed gratification in weight loss. Research has shown that individuals who exhibit better self-control and can resist immediate rewards for more extensive, delayed ones tend to achieve their weight loss goals more effectively. The ability to delay gratification is linked to better long-term weight management.
Answer: Individuals can quantify the value of their food choices effectively by using a numerical scale, as suggested in the “Diet By Numbers” approach. They can assign numerical values based on the importance of their long-term goals and the consequences of their dietary decisions. For instance, they can rate the pleasure of a dessert vs. the satisfaction of reaching their target weight.
Answer: Yes, applying the “Diet By Numbers” approach can lead to healthier eating habits and sustained weight loss. By consistently assigning numbers to food choices, individuals make more informed decisions aligned with their long-term goals. Over time, this leads to a shift in eating habits and a better chance of maintaining a healthy weight.
Answer: The “Diet By Numbers” approach is primarily designed for food choices, but its principles can be extended to other aspects of life where decision-making plays a crucial role. This technique encourages individuals to think critically about the consequences of their actions and can be applied to a wide range of decision-making scenarios, not limited to just dietary choices.
Are you tired of trying an endless list of diets that just don’t work? Frustrated with the constant cycle of losing and regaining weight? Are you looking for a medically endorsed solution, one based on thousands of hours of clinical experience? Maybe something that doesn’t involve following a restrictive diet, doing lots of exercise, or having invasive surgery…? So, go ahead, relax, and take a few minutes to daydream… What would it be like to be slim and healthy, to be at your target weight? Can you imagine if you never had to go on a diet again or be afraid of food? What if you were able to enjoy every social event with the fantastic feeling of extra energy and improved self-esteem? Welcome to My Weigh Less Master Class – The Gold Standard in Permanent Weight Loss.
Read on to find out about our award-winning solution! But first, allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Martin and Marion Shirran, and we have worked in the field of weight loss for almost 20 years. We are both clinical therapists and the developers of the globally acclaimed Gastric Mind Band Permanent Weight-Loss Treatment. Articles about our treatment and successful clients have appeared in the global media, including The Times, The Telegraph and the Express. Additionally, magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, Hello, Woman, Reader’s Digest and Psychologies have featured our work, as have TV shows around the world.
MWL effortlessly delivers the dieter into the eye of the dieting storm. On a psychological level, it delivers a profound and excitingly new approach to the introduction of change in a person’s life. The treatment allows participants to seamlessly overcome their negative issues around food and eating in general, resulting in them being able to make the connection between weight loss and wellness.
Diet By Numbers
During the twelve one-hour sessions that make up the programme, dieters learn about aspects of obesity and weight loss that they may have never associated as being connected. The programme has been built around a combination of empirically proven interventions. These include TactileCBT, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, as well as Clinical Hypnotherapy. The treatment is designed to connect your mind with your body, delivering a simple, clean connection between Weight Loss and Wellness. Diet By Numbers.
Over a thousand people travelled from around the world to experience our weight-loss treatment. Our clients include celebrities, members of the public and medical professionals, including doctors, dentists, nurses, anaesthetists and consultant surgeons. Some clients simply want to shed their excess weight to look better. However, others tell us that health is the main reason. Many of our past clients have successfully reversed medical conditions such as insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease, whereas others have managed to avoid having knee or hip replacement surgery. You may like to read more details on our Medical Endorsements page.
Our weight-loss approach has been the subject of continued research and development over the last thirteen years. Sharon, above, lost 75 pounds. Our youngest client was just fourteen, and the oldest was eighty-six. Some clients wished to lose just a few pounds to fit into their wedding dress. But others, like Sarah below, went on to lose over 140 pounds. As a result, she was featured globally on TV and in the press. Follow this link to sign up for our course now, and you can start your weight-loss journey today.
Diet By Numbers
Our psychology-focused weight loss programme provides a ‘Psychological Reset’ for those wishing to lose weight. The programme incorporates an updated version of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, TCBT, which is the subject of our bestselling book, published globally by Hay House. Professor Windy Dryden of Goldsmiths University in London endorsed the book, and Professor Philip Zimbardo of Stanford University in the USA wrote the foreword. We also incorporate the latest developments around Neuroplasticity and Neuro-Linguistic Programming along with many other disciplines. One component of our psychology-focused weight loss programme provides a ‘Psychological Reset’. At this statement, ‘Psychological Reset,’ we have observed many people raising their eyebrows; see below.
Let me give you a couple of examples: the programme will allow you to make a number of simple cognitive changes in your thought processes…small changes that deliver ‘massive results’. For example, think for a moment how different your relationship with food and weight loss would be if we re-programmed your subconscious mind to effortlessly replace the word “want” with the word “need”? The result, imagine you are out having dinner with friends, and after ordering a burger, instead of hearing the waiter asking: “Do you ‘want’ fries with that?” without thinking, you hear and automatically process the question as: “Do you ‘need’ fries with that?” Things would be very different, right? You see, at a cognitive level, we process those words differently. Later, maybe the waiter says, do you ‘want’ another glass of wine? You, of course, hear and cognitively process the word stream as do you ‘need’ another glass of wine. You can watch an animated video explaining ‘Want and Need’ and how it works at the bottom of this page.
Another ‘fix’ in the programme relates to just why people eat. So, during the programme, you will be asked when was the last time you ate in response to actual, physical hunger. Most people say: “Thinking about it, I haven’t been physically hungry for years”. And so we ask them: “Do you ever eat when you are bored, stressed, tired, lonely, depressed, sad, to reward yourself, when watching TV, or maybe just to please someone else?” Then, we do another reset, and so it goes on…
We have over 100 blog post articles on the site, covering many different topics. The blog page section is updated almost weekly; take a look by following this Blog Page Link.
Martin and Marion Shirran
We have spent many months completely reformatting our unique, phenomenally successful approach to weight loss. As a result, the course is now instantly available to download to your phone, tablet, or computer. This also means that you can complete the entire course without having to leave the comfort and security of your own home. Welcome to the ‘My Weigh Less Master Class’!
Read on the pages of this website how the award-winning ‘My Weigh Less’ downloadable treatment is successfully delivering what is surely ‘utopia’ to dieters: a medically endorsed, proven weight-loss approach that provides permanent results! The programme is also based on over 15,000 1:1 clinical treatment hours. My Weigh Less can help you reach your weight-loss goals.
– Permanent Weight Loss –
– No Diet or Exercise Required –
– Medically Endorsed –
– 15,000 1:1 Clinical Hours Experience –
– Fully Downloadable –
– Featured in Global Media –
– Award-Winning Programme –
We have over 100 blog post articles on the site, covering many different topics. The blog page section is updated almost weekly; take a look by following this Blog Page Link.
Diet By Numbers
Marion Shirran, as a director of Oxford Therapeutics Limited, is proud to be a registered Stakeholder in NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Marion is also involved in the government’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity.
We were proud to be awarded the ‘Most Innovative Obesity Psychological Therapy’ in the UK Mental Health Awards 2022.
We also appeared on the This Morning TV show with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
In 2010, we travelled to New York to be interviewed on the Good Morning America TV Show.
We are also co-authors of two bestselling books about non-surgical weight loss, published by Hay House.
You can read a full breakdown of all the components included in the treatment package on the Course Details page. There is also an explanation of the treatment on the Does This Work? page. We look forward to working with you. Additionally, you can read reviews from medical and other professionals on the Medical Endorsement page.
Diet By Numbers
Watch the Short Animated ‘Want and Need Video’ Below…
Click on the link below to listen to our short audio introduction to the weight-loss course.
You can download the complete My Weigh Less course and start your weight-loss journey today.
Downloadable Weight-Loss Treatment
My Weigh Less®/myweighless.com and all associated intellectual property rights are the property of Oxford Therapeutics Limited, a company registered in London.
You can read additional information about us and our weight-loss treatment on the Gastric Mind Band website.
Success Stories
Although the weight-loss results and success stories shown on the site are typical, individual results will vary, and are not guaranteed. Weight-loss success depends on each individual’s level of motivation, commitment, food intake and metabolism. Read our full disclaimer in the Terms & Conditions.
Diet By Numbers
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