The Mental Game

It's not enough that I have a plan for the physical aspects of losing FAT. If it were, I don't think Americans would be struggling with obesity they way they are. There is definitely a mental aspect to losing FAT and today we'll look at what it's going to take mentally to keep me on track.

When I look at my own behavior and history, the first change mentally I need to make is the realization that I'M NOT ON A DIET!! Diet indicates temporary changes, which won't work for lifelong weight management. So first change for me is this mantra:

I'm not on a diet - the changes I'm making ARE PERMANENT!

This means I need some new eating habits and routines that I'm going to be able to live with the rest of my life... I can do this.

So how do you make permanent lifestyle changes that really last?

First and foremost, you have to apply discipline: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties. This is where tracking the food I'm eating along with total calories comes into play. Over time, I will form new habits and learn the correct amounts of food to eat, but for now, I need to consider myself in training for my new lifestyle and meticulously apply discipline in these areas until new habits take root and takeover my eating habits.

What does discipline bring forth, though? I think in this instance I'll learn to have self-control over what I put in my mouth. The ability to say "no" to that gigantic brownie and have just a small square instead. The will power to kick crappy foods out of my daily diet and eat nutritionally dense foods instead.

Finally, once self-control starts to reign in my eating habits, consistency becomes key. I think most important with this is the realization that there WILL be times when I don't eat they way I should (think holiday parties). It will be okay to waver from my new eating habits OCCASIONALLY, as long as the majority of my eating is on track - consistency!

So four mental things to focus on if I'm going to be successful at not only losing FAT, but keeping it off for the rest of my life:

1. Stop thinking about the eating changes as a diet - instead focus on making permanent changes to your eating habits.
2. Discipline will be required to evolve into the new eating machine I want to become
3. Using self-control when presented with foods that usually cause me to overeat - learning to make better choices each day
4. Consistency over the long run will have me reaching my goal and maintaining it for the rest of my days!

Okay, so I'm in the mental game now... are you?




-- Kristin