Weight Loss without Worry

     So many people in our society struggle with their weight that we can easily start to think that those who live a healthy lifestyle and maintain their ideal weight are simply lucky or have some hidden advantage available only to them.  Yet the truth of the matter is that every one of us possess exactly what we need, right now, to lose any extra weight we are carrying around and live a healthy and fulfilling life.

     In fact, everything you need to change from unhealthy habits to healthy ones is already inside you.  You don’t need a different body, a new job, a better schedule, more money or a personal trainer.  All you need to do is tap into this incredible resource by using the most valuable tool you have for losing weight - your brain.

     There is so much dieting information and so many tips and recommendation on how to lose weight that we have forgotten how to use our own brain when making eating decisions.  By learning how to harness this incredible power you can create a mindset that will release you from the continual cycle of weight loss/weight gain and allow you to lose the weight once and for all.

     The thing to remember is that your brain is always active and it is constantly searching for information that is in line with the beliefs you hold on to.  In other words, whatever you focus your attention on your brain will attract more of.  Therefore, if you are always focused on how hard it is to lose weight or how much you hate dieting then your brain will seek evidence from your day that supports these beliefs.  Negative thoughts about losing weight make it nearly impossible to reach your goal.

     The good news is that you are not born with your beliefs, they develop as a result of your observations and interpretations of the things going on around you.  Since beliefs are learned, they can be unlearned and replaced with new beliefs.

     So what do you believe?  What thoughts fill your head?  How do you really feel about the body you were given?  Do you deserve a great-looking body?  Do you believe in your ability to lose weight?

     If you find you have developed negative thoughts and beliefs about losing weight then you will need to actively reprogram your brain by embedding empowering and supportive thoughts and beliefs.

     There are two great ways to do this.  The first is visualization.  Visualizing is using your imagination to pull you toward your goal.  Think of a vision as a mini-movie that you create that shows you what your life will be like when you reach your goal.  The vision needs to be vivid so use all of your senses when you create your vision, see the events unfolding, smell the crispness of the air, feel the excitement, hear the sounds surrounding you.  It is vitally important to put yourself in this movie as if you are experiencing it in real time.

     When I trained for my marathon, I used visualization to help me prepare.  On Saturday mornings I would run my "long run" and at the end of the run I would visualize the finish line of the marathon.  I would hear the cheers of the crowd, feel the adrenaline rush through my body and even throw my hands up in the air in victory.  I made the images so vivid in my mind that tears of joy would often come to my eyes.

     Another way you can train your brain for weight loss success is to use affirmations.  These are short distinct statements you say to yourself in order to create new, empowering beliefs.  It will take time and repetition to implant these new beliefs in your head but the results will be remarkable.  Again I will refer to my mental preparation for my marathon.  In addition to visualizing myself finishing the race, I also used affirmations.  For weeks before the race I repeated this statement to myself, "I am absolutely certain in my ability to run the marathon in 4:44".  I repeated this statement over and over to myself everyday for a minimum of 3 times each day and I never let myself doubt it.  What was my result?  I crossed the finish line of the marathon in the exact time I had been telling myself I would do it - 4 hours and 44 minutes.

     Your brain is the greatest tool you have for reaching your goal.  I recommend you put less effort toward finding the perfect diet and start working intensely on building positive thoughts and beliefs in your ability to change.