Weight loss is more of a mental challenge than a physical one. We all know what needs to be done physically to lose weight: you must eat right and do effective workouts. The challenge is to be able to stick to this kind of routine for a sufficient length of time and to be able to deal with the hurdles that will come in your way… and they will come.
Your mindset plays a key role in this. Many people fail to lose weight because they’re filled with negative thoughts that prevent them from seeing success. They sabotage their own weight loss efforts. If you experience negative thoughts regarding weight loss, this may be the most important article you’ll ever read.
I experienced many negative thoughts when I tried to lose weight, and I know other people have them too. Let’s go over some of the common negative thoughts you may experience while trying to lose weight and change them to more positive ones.
I Will Never Lose Weight
People who have always been fat, or have been that way for a long time, may feel that this is a constant condition, one which cannot ever change.
I call this kind of thinking “the constant negative”. It can be quite difficult to overcome. I can offer two ways to do so:
- Remember that other people have succeeded where you want to succeed. These are not some super-humans, but regular folk like you. They decided to take action and work hard and they succeeded. This is how it works.
- Think back on other things that you succeeded in. Were they so easy to achieve? I guess not, but you still managed to do so. If you can change your life once, you can do it again.
Keep those two things in mind and you should find it easy to get over this particular negative thought.
I Hate to Workout
I can’t argue with how you feel. For some people, the traditional forms of exercising: doing cardio and lifting weights, are just not right. They get bored quickly, find little enjoyment in it, and eventually quit doing them at all.
However, there are many other ways in which you can be active, burn more calories, and get a good workout:
- You can go dancing.
- You can play a sport.
- You can go hiking or take on an activity like rock climbing.
There are plenty of fun ways to get and stay fit. It’s up to you to find the activities that you enjoy.
It’s In My Genes
I’m not going to argue with that because it may be true. You may be genetically inclined to gain weight.
You may not be able to become a fitness model or appear on the cover of a swimsuit magazine. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t become more attractive, burn body fat, and feel better.
Our genes can’t be erased. However, you can come to a good compromise with them. There is a lot of room for improvement, if you’re willing to work hard.
I’m Too Old To Change
People can lose weight and build muscle mass well into their 70′s and beyond. I know people in their 40′s who are in better shape than they were in their 20′s. You are not too old to lose weight and make a big change in how you look.
If you don’t believe me, check out the story of Belinda Benn, author of the Get Lean Program, and see how she got herself down to a 12% body fat at age 48.
It’s true that your metabolism does slow down naturally with time and it’s also true that people tend to gain weight as they age. However, this isn’t something that has to happen to you. You can be different. As long as you have the drive and motivation to succeed, you can.
So, don’t let the fact that you’re maturting make you feel like you can’t lose weight. It is simply not true.
I’m Too Weak
No, you’re not. You have immense strength. You have already achieved so much in your life, in your studies, your job, your day to day life. You can certainly change your lifestyle, habits, and mindset to eat better and workout more.
Don’t believe people who tell you how hard it is to lose weight. They are often trying to sell you something. You just need to eat healthy and train more. You’ve done bigger and harder things. You are not too weak to succeed.
It’s My Fault That I’m Fat
This may be true and it may be not true. Does it matter? Losing weight works the same way whether you’re at fault for being so or not.
It’s true that your actions determine whether you gain weight or not, but look around you: see how many people are overweight these days. The fact is that we, as a society, have failed. Many of us are getting sicker due to bad food, lack of exercise, and an unhealthy lifestyle.
Don’t blame yourself for being overweight. You are entitled to make mistakes and it won’t help you to beat yourself up for them.
You need to think about the future and decide that you’re going to act differently from now on. Forget about blame. It’s not important. What you do from now on is.
You Control Your Thoughts
You control your own thought processes. This is what I want you to remember. You can decide to have less negative thoughts and to focus on your ability for positive change. I hope that the tips I shared here will help you to feel more confident about your ability to lose weight and get fit. I believe that you can. Now it’s time for you to believe in yourself.
