Everyone has been told at one time or another that something is all in their mind. Usually, this is used to talk someone out of overreacting to something beyond their control. When it comes to mindset and weight loss, your mind can be your most powerful ally. Let’s look at ways to keep thoughts positive so that you can focus on your weight loss goals to look and feel better for the right reasons.
The worst time to try to lose weight is when you are feeling bad about your body. This is when you flail around, jump into fads and so-called miracle exercises that you supposedly only have to do for five or ten minutes a day. Getting obsessed with the process is when you start to lose focus on the health goals and sustainability that can make a long-term difference in your life. Let’s look at some strategies to keep the right mindset for weight loss.
Set the Right Goals
Losing weight is a positive result, it should not be your immediate goal. Instead, choose small, sustainable changes that you can control. Keep a journal to log your successes (not necessarily all the failures). Have fun with it. Did you eat enough fruits and 
vegetables today? Check. Did you exercise for at least 30 minutes? Check. Photocopy the checklist and put it but your bed so you won’t be tempted to skip it. Not all goals have to be daily. For example, maybe you only have time to exercise three days a week for one hour. Make it work for you.
Celebrate Milestones with Non-food Rewards
Don’t use food as leverage for or against yourself. You need to eat to live and avoid overindulging. However, making food a currency is a bad idea. Instead, buy stickers to put on your calendar or journal when you’ve lost five pounds or have exercised every day for a week. Think that’s a stupid idea? Maybe you can save up for a great dress that you’ll fit into at your next checkpoint. Just stay positive, and realistic.
Take a Breather
You don’t have to meditate to enjoy the benefits of intentional breathing. When you are about to do something for your weight loss goal, take a moment to smile. Then, just breathe. At the beginning of your workout, before selecting a healthy meal at your favorite restaurant, when you say no to a good TV show to get enough rest, just breathe and give yourself a moment to be fully in the present. Before you work out, try to do this while lying down. Place a hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe deeply in and out until you feel relaxed and focused.
What are You Measuring?
You need a scale to measure your weight. However, it’s just a number. If you let it define you, you are taking something that is meant for informational purposes and using it to judge yourself. In fact, if your association with the scale has been self-destructive, throw it in the trash. You will know you’re losing weight when your clothes start falling off.
Keeping a positive mindset may seem like mumbo jumbo. In reality, it’s the key to reaching your weight loss goals and developing the confidence and discipline to keep it off.
Wanna lose weight? Feel less pain? And start living like you didn’t think possible? Schedule a nutrition consultation today at Tompkins family chiropractic.
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