Are You Ready to Lose Weight?

ARE YOU READY TO LOSE WEIGHT?

The main reason people fail on a new diet is because they are not mentally ready to diet.  You've heard people say, you have to want to lose weight for yourself, not for someone else.  What does that mean exactly?  What does it mean to want to lose weight for yourself? 

5 Ways to Mentally Prepare for a Successful Weight Loss

1.  You need to want to lose weight.

I know, why would you be reading this if you didn't want to lose weight, but a lot of diets 'fail' because the person on the diet wasn't mentally ready to diet.  They weren't 'in the game' as it were.  You need to find the biggest reason that you want to lose weight.  Is it to feel healthier?  To be able to get down on the floor with your grandkids?  Or to be able to put on and tie your own shoes without feeling like you are going to pass out?  Take the time to analyze your needs and think about how much better you'll feel and be able to accomplish these things with the new, thinner you.

2.  Change your outlook on food.

Food doesn't have to be your enemy.  We need food to survive, but not all food is created equal.  We need healthy basic food not processed junk food.  I always thought prepackaged food was quicker and easier to prepare, but that's not always the case.  A chicken breast only takes about 8-10 minutes to prepare in my George Foreman Grill and while that is cooking, there's plenty of time to saute some fresh vegetables.  A healthy meal can be ready in less than 30 minutes!

3.  Don't Keep Putting it Off

It's okay to start on Monday, just use your weekend to prepare your kitchen and pantry with what you need to succeed and use that time to get into the right mindset.  Don't use the weekend to throw all sense of healthy eating habits out the window and cram everything you 'can't' have on the diet down your throat.  Again, I've been guilty of this in the past.  It's not only unhealthy, but counter-productive in many ways.  If you do this you are creating a sense of 'forbidden fruit'.  You will want that type of food more than ever.  Your time for weight loss is really a short span of time in the scope of things.  You CAN  have that food again after you've lost weight, just in moderation.

4.  Remember That Birthdays Come Every Year

And so does every other holiday and recurring special occasion.  Many people, yours truly included, have used a special occasion to indulge.  However, don't 'fall off the wagon' for that piece of birthday cake or your cousin's pecan pie.  Yes, it may be Christmas, but it will be here again next year.  It's very disheartening when you are about to take a bite and realize you thought the same thing last year and possibly the year before that.  Plus, saying to yourself that you'll start over on your diet tomorrow doesn't always happen.  It's not always easy to get your foot back up on that wagon.  

5.  Don't Focus on How Much You Need to Lose

Especially if you have a lot of weight to lose, don't keep thinking 'I have (blank) amount of weight to lose.'  It can seem unreal and very far away.  Take it month to month.  Figure 2-3 pounds lost a week and have a goal to reach that month, like 8-12 pounds. Mark off your goal week by week and finally, see every day as an opportunity to make the right choices.

Ignore any past successes or failures. Focus on today.  Be determined and excited to stick to your plan.  Don't listen to negative self-talk.

YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU SET YOUR MIND TO DO!