How Mindset Affects Weight Loss

Patty was in her early 60s and had gained weight over 20 years. She was at her heaviest weight in her life and was convinced that every pound was a sign of aging. Then, she decided to change her mindset about food and eating. She learned to use positive self-talk and visualize making healthy choices. She also learned to have patience and a realistic view of her health journey.

Positive Self-Talk

One of the most important ways to lose weight and keep it off is to change the way you talk to yourself. It is important to recognize when you are using negative self-talk and learn to replace it with positive affirmations. You can do this by examining your current internal dialogue and noting your motivation and obstacles.

Damaging self-talk can negatively affect your health and self-esteem. It creates a vicious cycle that can lead to depression and anxiety. Practicing positive self-talk is essential for a healthy body, and it can help you overcome obstacles. If you’re constantly telling yourself “I can’t do this”, or “I’m not good enough,” then you’re setting yourself up for failure. Moreover, by speaking to yourself in a positive manner, you’re also motivating yourself to reach your goals.

A recent study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that positive self-talk improved athletes’ performance. In addition, it also reduced depression. People who used positive self-talk during endurance sports performed better than those who used negative self-talk. 

One way to practice positive self-talk is by taking a few minutes each day to acknowledge all the positive things that happened during the day. You can write down two to three things that went right each day. These steps don’t have to be large, but they can add up to a great deal of confidence and help you piggyback on your success. 

In addition to positive self-talk, researchers have also found that negative self-criticism negatively impacts a person’s well-being. The study also found that people who used self-criticism more often reported a lower sense of well-being. They felt the more negative effects on their bodies and were less likely to feel confident about their appearance or confident they could achieve their desired weight.

Have a Clear Set of Achievable Goals

Setting clear goals that are relevant to your lifestyle is crucial for weight loss. For example, you can set a daily calorie goal. You can also seek advice from your doctor to set an appropriate daily calorie limit. By setting a specific deadline, you will be more motivated to achieve your goal.

A clear goal will allow you to see how you are progressing and what you still need to do to meet it. You can create measurable goals, such as eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. These goals will allow you to measure your success and keep track of your weight loss progress.

Setting realistic goals will prevent false starts and setbacks. For example, you might not want to start training for a marathon if you hate running. However, it is more realistic to aim for a goal that will push you without overwhelming you. You can always adjust your goals if you find that you are not able to achieve them.

Setting long-term goals is also important. By setting these goals, you will be able to focus your attention on the bigger picture and move from focusing on diet and exercise to changing your lifestyle. Long-term goals can be difficult to achieve and may seem far off. To make these goals more manageable, you can break them down into smaller short-term goals.

By changing your mindset and establishing long-term health goals you can begin to see the weight you gained fall off and stay off. By consistently practicing positive self-talk about your body and your ability to achieve your desired weight, your subconscious will believe it is possible and you will be able to work toward that goal with confidence.