Have you ever noticed that when you “fight against” anything you end up making little progress? The very essence of resistance brings to mind sluggishness and stagnation, and the same concept applies to weight loss. Whatever you try to resist or fight against, or “get rid of” just seems to get bigger and stronger in your life (or on your body).
For that reason, you can improve your weight loss success by switching your focus away from fat, and placing it squarely on fitness, health, well-being, reaching your goal weight, and so on. (Any positive outcome as opposed to the negative condition you are trying to change.)
You may be thinking, “what’s the difference?” The difference is that your mind-set makes all the difference in your ability to be successful. When you fight against something, or try to get rid of it, or resist it in any way, you are in a negative state of mind. You may be thinking thoughts like this: “I hate this fat; I’ve got to lose this weight; I’m sick of feeling tired; I’m sick of wearing clothes that don’t fit well; I have to work out to lose this weight; I can’t eat foods I like because I’m fat.” Needless to say, those thoughts are not at all positive and they perpetuate a bad attitude. Over time, that negative attitude is going to wear you down.
On the other hand, if you approach weight loss with a positive attitude, you are probably thinking thoughts like these: “I’m going to get in better shape; I’m going to eat foods that are really good for me; I’m feeling better every day; I’m proud of the changes I’m making; my body is looking and feeling much better the longer I work at this; I’m excited to reach my goal weight!”
Such a positive attitude energizes you. It motivates and inspires you to keep going.
You are still taking the same journey, but you’re doing so with a lighter step and a sense of optimism that you’ll be successful. Taking this journey with a negative attitude is like carrying a heavy boulder on your back.
Try the following tips to switch your attitude from “fighting against” to “moving forward” and see the difference it makes in your results.
1) Practice acceptance.
Rather than hating various parts of your body, try accepting them. Accepting them doesn’t mean you’ll have to live with them forever, it just means you’re not going to resist what already “IS”. If your thighs are bigger than you like, your rear end sticks out, your stomach has become paunchy – accept the so-called “flaws” you’ve got and don’t agonize over them. Don’t get sucked into negative thinking or beating yourself up for the mistakes of the past. Accept where you are, and focus on moving forward to something better.
2) Be enthusiastic.
The future is filled with endless opportunities, and approaching them with an optimistic, enthusiastic state of mind will help you grasp many more of them. A positive attitude makes you feel energized and empowered, which makes you much more likely to succeed. Remember this whenever you catch yourself being pessimistic or doubtful – and turn those negative thoughts around to something that makes you feel better about yourself and your potential for success.
When it comes to weight loss or any other goal you set for yourself, be an “embracer” instead of a “resister”. Be a “doer” instead of a “regretter”. Just by making these small changes to your mental focus, you’ll boost your results and achieve your goals much more easily.
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