The mental side of dieting
What is the biggest factor in a successful diet or weight loss program?
You may think it depends on what you consider a diet to be. You may think it depends on your weight loss goals. You may even think it depends on your knowledge of nutrition and or exercise. Irregardless of your overall dieting/weight loss goals or nutritional/exercise knowledge your mental state is the most crucial part in accomplishing them.
If you were going to "beat" a lie detector test (not that I condone that activity) you would have to have the utmost confidence in yourself and your thoughts. You would have to believe what you thought and realize there is an overall benefit to doing so. Maybe not the best example, but I hope we can understand the benefit of "believing" and how that can translate into accomplishments.
What you can NOT have or what you HAVE to do (including exercise if that is part of your regimen) is the typical thought process when we take on this task of diet/weight loss. The immediate concern or thought is I can't eat what I like and I have to eat what I don't like or care for. When exercise is incorporated we often think of the struggle to find time or difficulties we have getting through a session. We find time to watch TV (even if we Tivo) and or other activities so 15, 20 or 30 minutes CAN BE found if we want to!
Our mindset or mental attitude is the biggest draw back we typically have when trying to lose weight. We rarely focus on the positive aspects and benefits (other than the initial desire many times) that help to motivate and keep us focused on the overall goals. Our goals and thoughts should go way beyond the 10, 20, 30 pounds or more we want to lose. We MUST understand and focus on the overall benefit of weight loss, a balanced nutritional diet & some form (no matter how big or small) of exercise. The list can can go on and on... Look better, Feel better, Live a longer life, Set an example for your children, Be active with your children, Live with less pain, Grow older without feeling older, Live without disease or cancer, Have more energy... Think about it and you'll find dozens of benefits.
Focus on the positive benefits and ongoing results of a weight loss program. The benefits of your weight loss program should NOT be the final result, but the differences you feel and see along the way. Focusing on the benefits you see and feel (even if random which is typical) will help to keep you motivated each day. Continuing to truly understand what the long term benefits are should keep you motivated even if you have a "bad" day. Understand that if you follow your program you CAN have a favorite dish or dessert in moderation. Favorite food goals are not bad and can be a great way or rewarding yourself. These types of treats should be a part of your program and are necessary. We can't totally deny ourselves our favorite treats as that is a recipe for failure. If you have a bad day for whatever reason just refocus on the goals and know that one mistake or bad day doesn't nullify your progress nor will it effect the end goal.
We are at a point where "medicine" (although slow to accept and change as a whole) is going to move in the direction of proper/balanced nutrition as a system to reduce/remove/eliminate many of our health related problems. More and more nutritional studies prove and provide information that will not only save lives, but provide a much healthier life for all of us and generations to come. These necessary changes are tougher for those of us with not so perfect nutrition and exercise. The great news is that a chance now can benefit us not only in the immediate future (losing the initial weight), but will also benefit us as we age allowing a more active and healthier lifestyle.
Focus, refocus and know that the benefits of a health lifestyle will be lifelong!
You may think it depends on what you consider a diet to be. You may think it depends on your weight loss goals. You may even think it depends on your knowledge of nutrition and or exercise. Irregardless of your overall dieting/weight loss goals or nutritional/exercise knowledge your mental state is the most crucial part in accomplishing them.
If you were going to "beat" a lie detector test (not that I condone that activity) you would have to have the utmost confidence in yourself and your thoughts. You would have to believe what you thought and realize there is an overall benefit to doing so. Maybe not the best example, but I hope we can understand the benefit of "believing" and how that can translate into accomplishments.
What you can NOT have or what you HAVE to do (including exercise if that is part of your regimen) is the typical thought process when we take on this task of diet/weight loss. The immediate concern or thought is I can't eat what I like and I have to eat what I don't like or care for. When exercise is incorporated we often think of the struggle to find time or difficulties we have getting through a session. We find time to watch TV (even if we Tivo) and or other activities so 15, 20 or 30 minutes CAN BE found if we want to!
Our mindset or mental attitude is the biggest draw back we typically have when trying to lose weight. We rarely focus on the positive aspects and benefits (other than the initial desire many times) that help to motivate and keep us focused on the overall goals. Our goals and thoughts should go way beyond the 10, 20, 30 pounds or more we want to lose. We MUST understand and focus on the overall benefit of weight loss, a balanced nutritional diet & some form (no matter how big or small) of exercise. The list can can go on and on... Look better, Feel better, Live a longer life, Set an example for your children, Be active with your children, Live with less pain, Grow older without feeling older, Live without disease or cancer, Have more energy... Think about it and you'll find dozens of benefits.
Focus on the positive benefits and ongoing results of a weight loss program. The benefits of your weight loss program should NOT be the final result, but the differences you feel and see along the way. Focusing on the benefits you see and feel (even if random which is typical) will help to keep you motivated each day. Continuing to truly understand what the long term benefits are should keep you motivated even if you have a "bad" day. Understand that if you follow your program you CAN have a favorite dish or dessert in moderation. Favorite food goals are not bad and can be a great way or rewarding yourself. These types of treats should be a part of your program and are necessary. We can't totally deny ourselves our favorite treats as that is a recipe for failure. If you have a bad day for whatever reason just refocus on the goals and know that one mistake or bad day doesn't nullify your progress nor will it effect the end goal.
We are at a point where "medicine" (although slow to accept and change as a whole) is going to move in the direction of proper/balanced nutrition as a system to reduce/remove/eliminate many of our health related problems. More and more nutritional studies prove and provide information that will not only save lives, but provide a much healthier life for all of us and generations to come. These necessary changes are tougher for those of us with not so perfect nutrition and exercise. The great news is that a chance now can benefit us not only in the immediate future (losing the initial weight), but will also benefit us as we age allowing a more active and healthier lifestyle.
Focus, refocus and know that the benefits of a health lifestyle will be lifelong!
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Comment by Bob Pressley on April 11, 2008 at 4:47pm - Thanks Paula! Exercise IS A JOB and not a very fun one at that. However, like some jobs we just have to get through it as we know the benefit AND the outcome if we don't. Use all the positives you can find and try to make any form of exercise fun. Try walking with a group so you can chat, play games with your kids, create a point system with others trying to exercise, etc.
© 2009 Created by Marie
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