Your mind can certainly play tricks on you, and it can also play a role in your ultimate weight management's success.
Let's check out a few ways to beat the mental obstacles that can keep you from losing weight. . . and keeping it off!
Sometimes being on a 'diet' just seems overwhelming, frustrating, annoying and every other emotion in between.
I've rarely bumped into a person who says"Oh baby, I can't wait to go on a diet! How much fun!! Yay!"
(Well, if you are out there. . . rock on!)
But for most of the masses, it just seems like the most torturous venture.
You might feel as though you don't have the heart to stay in the weight-loss 'fight'.
Well, it's not always your heart, or that 'will-power thing' everyone throws around that keeps you from your weight management success — sometimes it's all in your head.
One of the biggest reasons that 'diets' fail is because many people approach weight loss [usually] the wrong way.
Target your weight loss strategy – mentality.
If I had to pick one thing I would waive my magic wand to fix, it would be that all-or-nothing thinking and all-or-nothing acting.
Set small, realistic goals instead of big, sweeping ones. If you went into every situation without [subconsciously] thinking it's all or nothing, you're much more likely to moderate what you eat.
Let's face it, there are over 200+ food decisions a day!
OVER 200+!
Let's just start thinking about those hundreds and hundreds of mini-decisions we make in one day.
Be gentle! Small decisions and trade-offs — like eating only half of a cookie instead of a whole one or adding a few short, quick walks to your overall activity plan — are what ultimate lead to weight loss.
But I will tell you, if we could THINK a little differently day to day, it would make a huge difference.
How many time have you said. . . "I could write the book on "such-n-such" diet plan!"
Ok. . . then why isn't it working??
And let's not forget how fast we want to give up on ourselves. . . . "It's too hard", "Why, bother, it will never work?" or any of the other hundreds of confirmations and permission's we are looking to give ourselves because we don't believe we can really do it!
*SIGH* . . . if you're gonna tell yourself a story . . . MAKE IT A GOOD ONE!
I have to change my thinking from a place of anger or from the "no pain, no gain" mentality when it comes to losing weight.
Anger is not the same as a commitment.
Getting clear on your 'WHY' you want it/need it so bad begins a process that will open up to an overwhelming empowerment and 'can-do' spirit to embrace the process and especially maintaining that feeling for the long haul!
I mean, come on. . . we want to KEEP the weight off and start living that life we dreamed, don't we?
Just imagine.
When I made the decision to get serious about weight loss, it was because I realized that not only was my weight unhealthy, but so was the way I thought about my weight and my health. . . and ultimately my LIFE!
I had to find a way to heal those thoughts... (Hey...it's in the word! *HEALth*)
I remember going shopping for bigger clothes again, and sitting in the store and looking at the plus size rack, thinking I could have saved money if I had got the bigger clothes the LAST time I was shopping and just grew into them! (smack, smack, smack!)
And then the best was. . . "I wish my LIFE would get out of my way so I could lose my weight!"
WHAT DID I JUST SAY????
When the heck was that going to happen???
But that was what I had been thinking! Without any awareness I was even thinking that!
Those were the moments that made me realize that my thought process had to change! It was that change that led to my 75-pound weight loss.
Talk about a moment of clarity and how self-destructive my logic was!
I know I've talked about my journey into this next chapter of my life and I will always talk about how powerful it was for me.
It was my surrender, it was my empowerment, it was my wonder, it was my adventure and it was a weight gain of over 25 lbs! (Another story for another story!)
For this reference - the interesting part was my OLD thinking came right on back!! After 20 years!!!
Fit like a glove, too, that thinking did! Like I was puttin' on an old jacket, and it fit real good!! Those thoughts were as fresh as they were 75 lbs ago!
It was comfortable in the discomfort. Damn!
Our brain is something powerful, baby!
But when you know better, you do better! So I've worked hard to change those thoughts to work for me again! And it's always one step at a time!
Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can. And then when you know better, you will do better.
I will say that the trigger that makes you realize you don't lose weight through a diet, but through a lifestyle change, is different for everyone. Be patient with why you want it so bad for the long haul....not just in the moment of discomfort.
When you learn a healthy way to approach your weight management, both mentally and physically, you can ultimately find success.
Drastic dieting can be a vicious cycle that leaves people angry, depressed, frustrated, and finally just giving up.
If you are feeling 'hostage' to your thoughts and your efforts, reach out to me here. I can be your advocate for change to discover YOUR path and how to wrap your brain around how you want to see yourself, your efforts and how you see your future.
It's a process that will open the doors to your life.
We'll do it together – because you won't do it alone.
I am not my sister's keeper, I am my sister.
Much love,
Lucia
P.S.S. If you missed my masterclass summit series Change Your Thinking, Change Your Body, check out the events page on my website to access the videos. You can click on each expert's picture to grab the link to each interview. I would love to hear from you! Share your comments and favorite take-aways!
