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Your body type and personality are interconnected. Here's how.
By Emily Ratay — Written on Aug 22, 2019
Weight gain is something that can affect us all differently, but when we’re not expecting to see a certain number when we step on the scale, it can really crush us emotionally.
This is especially true when you’re actually trying to work out more and eat healthily.
When the scale still says that you’re gaining weight, it's upsetting.
This has happened to me more than a few times and has affected me so much so that I don’t even weigh myself at all now.
I was able to go more than five years without really knowing just how much I weighed until my doctor said it out loud to me a few months ago.
In my personal opinion, knowing how much I weigh and if I’ve actually gained weight just makes me feel even more like I’m failing at getting healthy, even when I remind myself that it’s a journey and that even baby steps matter.
Of course, my life path number also proves that I can be pretty emotional and get caught up in little things that I know won’t matter eventually, so clearly, these two things don’t mix well.
That said, your life path number can teach you more about yourself so that you can figure out why you’re gaining weight and start being in the driver’s seat of your own health journey.
For the longest time, our culture has been so obsessed with health treatments and exercise and asparagus juice from Whole Foods that if you weren’t flaunting your weight loss on Instagram you were an outcast.
I like to think that we’re starting to move toward a more body-positive culture and a more wellness-centered lifestyle, but I know that takes time.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten regarding my health and wellness is to just do whatever I want and choose the things that make me feel happy and healthy, without listening to a bunch of contradicting articles and experts.
It’s a piece of advice I’m passing onto you. Let your life path number help you initiate the conversation about a happy, healthy mind and body, but remember that the only approval you need is your own – so don’t let yourself do things to make other people happy.
Here is why you are gaining weight (and how to lose the pounds), according to your life path number.
Life Path 1
As a 1, you’re a born leader. No matter what you do in life, you have to be number one. In addition to that, you’re also incredibly independent – you don’t often let other people tell you what to do.
Deep inside you though, beyond this confidence, is a sense of cynicism and self-doubt. You’re a deep thinker and that can put a lot of stress on you.
If you find that you’ve been gaining weight, it could be because you have a hard time shutting your brain off. You can get attached to addictive tendencies quickly, so it’s important to focus on something healthier than junk food and alcohol.
Once you make something like cardio or meditation a routine thing, you’ll notice yourself feeling and looking healthier.
Life Path 2
As a 2, you are very emotional and sensitive. Everything you feel, you feel in the deepest crevices of yourself – in your body, heart, and soul.
Your life can sometimes be an emotional rollercoaster, which can go hand in hand with what you’re feeling physically.
You have a tendency to cope with the ups and downs of life with bad-for-you food and empty calories.
It’s important to learn how to separate your emotions from your physical self. Otherwise, you will always turn to comfort food and alcohol when you’re sad, stressed, or frustrated.
Engaging with friends and having a support system is a great way to continue to express yourself emotionally, just in a healthier way. Additionally, finding activities that make you feel good are important.
Life Path 3
As a 3, self-expression is very important to who you are. There isn’t a moment in your life when you wish you had said something – because you’re always looking for ways to express yourself and communicate with others.
Of course, there are certainly times when people don't want to hear what you have to say, which can make you feel like a burden.
When you find yourself gaining weight, it could be because you’re having a hard time finding the balance between over– and under-expressing your emotional self.
There are definitely times when a support system is the best way to express how you’re feeling, but there are also times when a kickboxing class or yoga is a much better creative outlet – let yourself explore it all!
Life Path 4
As a 4, you highly value security and stability in your life and relationships. In everything you do, you have to know that there is a certain foundation that has been set beforehand to really ensure stability.
Hey, it’s just how you roll! That said, being such a stickler for security and stability can make you pretty stubborn.
When it comes to your health, being stubborn can be a good trait (like being able to stick to a diet) or it can be a bad thing (like putting unnecessary stress on yourself to succeed).
Not only can stress affect your emotional and mental health, but it can also affect you physically, too. The key to losing weight is to find relaxing techniques that actually work for you. You won’t believe what stress-reduction practices can do for your health.
Life Path 5
As a 5, adventure and excitement are your callings. You absolutely must have the freedom to be yourself and do whatever you want, without anyone holding you back.
When this call for adventure gets too unbalanced, it can make you feel claustrophobic and trapped in or even cranky and stressed.
All of this micromanaging your life and yourself can cause serious burnout, which can lead to a whole lot of other problems besides just weight gain. Sticking to a healthy routine that you can count on every day is a great place to start.
Light cardio in the morning, a walk with friends during lunch, and a healthy dinner in the evening are all low-stress ways to stay in shape and healthy.
Life Path 6
As a 6, you are known for being very responsible. You stick to your guns, even when everyone else around you is quitting. There’s definitely something admirable about striving for perfection in everything you do.
That said, perfection can easily turn into a four-letter word when it comes to your health.
It’s easy for that perfection to get in the way of the big picture. If you find yourself feeling like the things you’re doing for your health simply aren’t enough, it might be a good idea to take a step back.
You can become overly critical of your progress when it’s more important to appreciate how far you’ve come instead of criticizing how far you have left to go. Start with baby steps and remember that you don’t have to work hard for anyone’s approval but your own.
Life Path 7
As a 7, you are a deeply spiritual person. You are always looking for the meaning of life in the activities you do and in your own self-exploration. You are a very unique person in that you have both an intuitive and analytical side.
You sometimes get too caught up in your own head to let yourself be vulnerable, which can have an effect on your weight and body image.
If you want to lose weight and get healthier, it’s important for you to embrace that vulnerable part of yourself.
It’s okay to feel lost or confused on your health journey, but what you have to stop yourself from doing is letting these conflicting emotions win and giving up.
Make it a daily practice to express yourself in a way that makes you feel good about yourself, like through meditation or a group exercise.
Life Path 8
As an 8, you believe that success is measured intangible things, like money, a cushy job, or serious weight loss. You are one of those people who never seem to give up, even if it means pushing yourself past your limits.
People who know you know that you can be a workaholic at times, and you can even be a bit aggressive when trying to prove yourself.
If you’re not careful, this aggression can lead to a lot of stress-related issues and high blood pressure. It’s important to remember that there is no competition when it comes to health.
Your health is a journey and a long one at that. Loosen up with fun stress-free exercises like dancing, biking, or swimming. Even when you’re getting healthy, you can have a good time, too.
Life Path 9
As a 9, you are very selfless. You go through life always looking for ways to help others and put your friends and family first.
This is a great trait to have, but it also means you always put yourself second, even when it’s imperative that you let yourself be selfish and put yourself first.
Even if you don‘t always realize it, you tend to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders… talk about stressful.
You have a tendency to become overly responsible in other people’s lives, which means that while you may be a great motivator for other people getting into shape, you’re not so great at it for yourself.
You need to relieve the stress of being everyone's caretaker by employing daily exercises like yoga, meditation, and even therapy to find the support you need to be your best self.
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.