Weight Loss Tips That Begin In The Mind

It’s often said that the key to losing weight is diet and exercise, but that’s not always the case.

While a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet is vital and so is a regular exercise routine, losing weight begins in the mind.

Studies have shown time and time again that psychology plays a vital role in the success or failure of a weight loss attempt, and that many weight loss tips have nothing to do with what you eat or how often you exercise.

Psychology plays an imperative role in many natural body functions, and weight loss is no different. Following these weight loss tips can give your efforts an extra boost, and provide healthy, significant results.

1) Positive Thinking

It may seem trite, but positive thinking has more of an effect on the physical body than you might imagine.

Science has proven that stress can reduce the effectiveness of weight loss efforts, and being stressed out about losing weight can have significant adverse results.

Try to focus on the positive as much as possible. Losing weight doesn’t happen overnight, and results don’t happen instantly.

Weight loss is a process that requires commitment. Discouragement is the number one cause of a diet and exercise plan failing. So many new years resolutions fade out at the end of January when the pounds aren’t melting off.

Keeping consistently positive can trigger the ability to let go of excess weight, and a positive outlook opposed to a negative one can allow for more significant results.

2) Allow For Moderation

Cutting certain foods out of your diet is a sure way to ensure that they’re the first things you crave when you’re hungry.

Diets are a give and take, and no one can remain on a strict diet all the time without occasionally falling off the wagon. Maybe you’ve been good for weeks, and then slip up when you go out to a restaurant with friends.

The success of your weight loss plan depends on your state of mind, and beating yourself up for occasional slip ups does more harm than good. Instead of cutting out chocolate completely, allow yourself one day every couple of weeks where you’re allowed to indulge a little.

Count calories six days a week, and on the seventh, give yourself a break. And don’t lose your resolve if you make mistakes – everyone does. It doesn’t make you a failure – it makes you human.

3) Treat Yourself With Rewards

The brain responds positively to the feeling of being rewarded, just like it responds negatively to feelings of punishment.

Cutting out your favorite foods or restricting yourself to a low-calorie diet every single day until you see results can make your brain feel like it’s being punished and can lead to a low self-esteem which does nothing for your weight loss efforts.

Rewarding yourself at a set time not only gives you something to look forward to every so often, but also allows your brain to view the diet as the potential for a reward, not a punishment.

It’s important to remember that dieting is never easy. Whether you’re trying to lose a few excess pounds or a significant amount, any weight loss program requires effort and dedication.

That means being kind to yourself, staying focused on the end goal, and keeping steady.

Constantly sending yourself negative messages or putting yourself down can negatively impact your results. Pat yourself on the back for even being willing to make the effort.