I’ve always been a big believer in the power of positive thinking. The latest science seems to be agreeing that our thoughts, actions, and moods may play an even bigger role in our health and general wellness than previously believed.
So, it’s probably no big surprise that positive thinking and weight loss success work together.
Positive thinking plays a significant role in our weight loss efforts. Think about it: It’s impossible to lose weight when we focus on how fat and unhappy we are.
Why? Because these kinds of negative thoughts lead us to succumb to our cravings, overeat and skip out on our daily dose of exercise.
Positive thoughts, on the other hand, can increase our motivation and energy levels, propelling us toward our weight loss goals.
And we all know how negatively stress affects our weight loss efforts. Negative thoughts and stress go hand in hand. And stress can make it impossible to lose weight. So, one big way positive thinking can improve our chances of losing with is through stress reduction. What’s your favorite way to manage your stress? My favorite stress relievers include brisk walks, gentle yoga, funny movies, hot baths and aromatherapy with essential oils.
One of the ways that a negative attitude can prevail during dieting is when we set unreasonable goals for ourselves. Like subjecting ourselves to extremely low-calorie diets that are not sustainable, or by setting unrealistic weight loss expectations. To increase weight loss success, it’s important to set achievable goals, taking a step-by-step approach. Losing half to one kilo per week is a reasonable goal and can generally be achieved without extreme measures. And find non-scale victories to celebrate too. Down a dress size? Got more energy? Feeling stronger? Sleeping better? Off some of your meds?
Stay positive team and make sure to celebrate small wins, note three good things about your day and counter negative self talk.