While losing weight might be a physical transformation, it’s also an emotional one at the same time. Trying to lose weight is no easy task. It can be frustrating when the scale doesn’t budge in the right direction no matter how healthy you eat or how much you work out. Every person’s weight loss journey is different since everyone has a different body and goals. With that said, everyone will lose weight differently. What works for some might not work for another person. But at the end of the day losing weight is about eating healthier and working out.
However, one thing remains consistent with everyone who has successfully lost weight is that they were in the right mindset. This is very important when starting your weight loss regime and can make all the difference when it comes to succeeding. If you’ve tried to lose weight before and gained it all back, it was probably due to the fact that you weren’t in the right mindset for the challenge. Getting into the right mindset is what will lead to long-term results when trying to reach your goal weight and live a healthier lifestyle.
Why You Can’t Lose Weight Without the Right Mindset
If you try to lose weight without the right mindset, you’ll find the journey harder and more difficult than it should be. And 9 times out of 10, the results aren’t there, either. Many people try to shed the pounds in the worst state of mind. Instead of trying to be healthier, they simply want to try and fix themselves, believing something is wrong with them. They jump into fad diets and unrealistic exercise plans, which end up setting themselves up for failure in the end. These people are obsessed with getting results and only want quick fixes. They often lose sight of their overall health and the sustainability of their weight loss efforts. So, when they stop, they gain it all back!
This type of thinking is very destructive for the person already in a fragile state of mind. Embarking on a weight loss journey is anything but easy, which is why it’s important to consider the mindset you have. Instead of focusing on the good that comes out of weight loss, they focus on the negative like not seeing the scale go down when tight clothes now fit them better than ever. This sort of negative mindset can lead to failure, which will only be more damaging for a person already broken.
Why the Right Mindset Is Important
Research has proven that there’s a link between mindset and weight loss. If a positive mindset will help make you a better person in general, imagine what it can do when trying to eat better and work out? Changing the way you think about your relationship with food and exercise can really give you the extra push needed to reach your dieting goals.
Here are some helpful ways to shift your mindset so that you have better weight loss results:
- Create smaller goals
While weight loss is the ultimate goal, it’ll be easier to achieve if you break it down into smaller, more sustainable ones that you can fully control. Things like working out in the mornings (or night) for a minimum of three days a week. Or replacing one meal a day with a protein shake. Things that you can check off your list on your weight loss journey can help you change the way you see the entire process. It’s not this one big goal anymore, which can seem intimidating. Instead, it’s smaller goals that all lead to weight loss.
- Be positive
No matter how hard the journey gets, always have a positive mindset about things. Sure, the scale hasn’t moved as you wanted to, but you can button up a tight pair of jeans now. Be happy about that and trust the process. The scale will move in time, but you’re still seeing results in other ways. Being positive about things in your weight loss journey will help keep you on track and motivated to succeed. You’ll be more willing to continue the diet now that your pants fit better despite the scale not proving. It.
- Healthy isn’t a punishment
You’ll want to rethink rewards and punishments. Being healthy isn’t a punishment and so eating that salad and working out isn’t a punishment, but a reward for being healthy. By changing how you think of both, you’ll be able to reach your goal weight and stick with your weight loss journey no matter how hard it may seem.
- Be patient
You’re not going to lose weight overnight, so don’t give yourself a deadline. Patience is key when you’re trying to lose weight in a healthy way so that you can sustain it later. Don’t get too wrapped up in dates or timelines, but instead focus on smaller, everyday successes like eating a salad for lunch and doing 15 extra minutes on the treadmill.
- Know your troubled thoughts
Everyone has their own trouble thoughts that cause them to doubt themselves. This can hinder the progress you’re making and cause you to lose sight of your goals. Once you can identify the thoughts that get you in trouble, you’ll be able to stop them from popping up and change the way you think.
- Focus on what you can attain
If you’re new to fitness, don’t think that you’re going to be a pro at the gym the first day. Have smaller goals for working out and build up to the harder stuff. Start with a treadmill walk and work up to finally hitting the weights. And if you can’t meal prep, think about using a delivery meal service so that you can still eat healthy despite your busy lifestyle. Focusing on the attainable will allow you to have a starting point that you can then build from until you reach your goals!