The diet dilemma has more to do with adjusting our mindset so that healthy choices feel right and don’t feel like deprivation or punishment.
Even if you find yourself leaning toward a pessimistic attitude, you can still achieve a weight loss success mindset.
Here are some steps to develop a healthy weight loss mindset plan for success on your health and fitness journey.
STEP 1 – Set Intentions First
The greatest weight loss program is one that is enjoyable and encouraging, thus what will keep you going strong. To attain this goal, you’ll need to set your intentions ahead of time. Don’t just say that you want to lose weight, imagine how it will make a difference in your life. Maybe you want to be able to feel fit when playing with your kids, or simply enjoy your traveling time without getting exhausted. These are intentions that will keep you on track for progress and you’ll put yourself up for success.
STEP 2 – Set a Positive Goal
When you have a positive mental approach, you will find ways to motivate yourself while you are going on a diet. Use positive visualization methods to encourage yourself, such as creating mental image of how you will look, feel or dress when you have achieved your goal. You can even post a picture of your slimmer self on your bedroom’s mirror or even your cell phone’s wallpaper.
With an optimistic mindset, you will be more focused on your target. This way, you will stay positive even if you do not see any immediate progress; you may even make a greater effort to achieve better results in the future.
STEP 3 – Make Weight Loss about Yourself
The greatest thing to do when you start your diet is to focus on yourself. No program should be only based on losing weight; instead it could be targeted on improving your life for the better.
When you choose to eat healthy and control your portion sizes, your healthy weight take longer to be achieved, but you’ll have the guarantee that you’re eating what your body needs. If you follow your weight loss program with this healthy attitude, you’ll be more likely to stick with the program and focus on the overall picture: a healthier and happier you.
STEP 4 – Learn How to Focus
For most people, the first reason for starting a diet is to lose weight.
Some people are concerned when they realize that losing weight takes time and willpower, and most people meet their goals gradually. Luckily, losing weight gradually is a good sign, since these programs that are most beneficial. Diets that guarantee a quick and rapid weight loss are usually restricting your body of essential nutrients that won’t be effective on the long-term.
So how do you stop becoming fixated on your current weight and look at the progress? Instead of focusing about why you may not be losing weight as quickly as you had hoped; think about the result that you’ll have weeks and months down the road. Use your small short-term goals as your motivating factors!
STEP 5 – Fight your Obstacles
The obstacles that you’ll encounter during the diet are either mental or physical. This is because during weight loss both your mind and body will be tested.
Whether you might be feeling stressed, not getting enough sleep, feeling hormonal or simply having cravings or temptations; relying only on willpower is important. To achieve this, one should visualize the problem and work on finding solutions to these problems encountered. If you worry that you will be tempted to eat your favorite food when placed in front of you just think: “what is the right solution here?”
For example, the trick here is to look for low-fat versions. Or allow yourself an occasional splurge (once a week, a cheat meal is okay). However, always put in your mind the pros and cons of these solutions.
Obstacles are made to be overcome, so add these solutions to your weight-loss program and watch those kilos drop off.
