Key Strategies For Weight Loss Success

Katie, a thirty-three year old mother of two, has been on her share of diets over the years. From Weight Watchers to the Zone to Sugar Busters, she feels as if she has tried them all. While she has had moderate success in losing weight from time to time, she has never found a long term weight loss solution. Her weight is a point of contention in her marriage; her husband - who also happens to be obese - wishes she were thin, but says he loves her in any case. The two have been separated a number of times, and even filed for divorce once. The stress has caused Katie to begin binge eating again.

There's hope for Katie and others like her who feel as if they are trapped on the diet carousel. The key to long term weight loss success might not be the body, but the mind. Research indicates that those who have a positive outlook on life are more likely to lose weight - and stay thin. But how can you have a positive outlook when you’ve been burned so many times before? Is it possible to will your way to losing weight?

One way that has been proven effective in sports exposure is something called visualization. For instance, a baseball player might visualize his bat connecting with a ball, leading to a homerun. A soccer musician might visualize kicking the winning goal in a soccer exchange. And a golfer might visualize sinking the winning putt in the Masters Tournament.


The same technique can be used by dieters. Visualize yourself as thin. Picture yourself in that dress that is now two sizes too small. Imagine stepping onto the scale and being pleased with the fruit. Visualize yourself saying no to that piece of chocolate cake or that plate of Fettucini Alfredo. These mind exercises can help to spur you onto weight loss.

When people learn they're suffering from cancer, they are encouraged to scheme their cancer cells being destroyed by healthy cells. You can follow the same technique in order to lose weight. That means imagining your fat cells being destroyed by thin cells. Through such a method, you can think your way to a healthy weight.

In addition, it is critically important that you maintain a positive attitude. Be forgiving of yourself. If you veer off your diet plan, simply get back on course with your next meal. Do not spend ace time beating yourself up over your failures. As an alternative, celebrate your successes - in a non fattening way. For example, when you reach a milestone... say you’ve irrevocable ten pounds reward - yourself with a trip to an art museum or to your favorite coffee shop. Marking milestones will give you a sense of accomplishment, a sense that you're triumphing over food.

Additional helpful technique can be prayer or meditation. A few support groups even offer Bible based weight loss programs that use scripture verses to help inspire. Taking stock of your life and handing your weight loss problems over to a higher power can be cathartic and may give you a sense of still about your weight difficulties. It has been said that a shiny head leads to a healthy body. Try praying or meditating ten minutes at the start of your day. Chances are you will feel refreshed and presto to tackle the weight challenges that come your way.

Yet another technique you might consider is role playing. Grab your spouse or a bosom buddy and ask him or her to act out a situation in which you might be tempted to overeat. You’ll be forced to come up with strategies to fight temptation. This rehearsal could validate to be quite helpful when a real life diet dilemma comes your way. If role playing works for job interviews, it should be beneficial for your weight as well.

Mind over matter isn't just a clever saying. It can actually be the solution to your weight loss problems. By using your brain power, you are able to develop the know-hows needed to make healthy food selections. When your mind and your body are both healthy, you have the best of both worlds.

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