Impatience And Lack Of Commitment

Have your ever heard this, I have only lost ten pounds in a month.  I have hit a plateau because I didn't lose any weight this week? Or, I haven't lost any weight, but I am not following my healthy eating plan.

It is important to remember that our weight didn't appear in a week, it was a long process.  In the same manner we need to be patient and commit to a long term relationship with ourselves and our well being.

It is like thinking about weight loss as a special sale at the store only available until the end of the month, HURRY!!!  Friends, this is like any other thing in life, we have to work for it just like we do with any of our relationships.  When you have a partner, you know that if you love that person, even if they are not perfect, you’re not going to quit on them.  If we are committed to that relationship, we will be patient and we will begin to see the results.  Eventually they will stop squeezing the toothpaste in the middle (hopefully).  Remember we are not perfect!!

Inconsistency

Here is an example.  I don't weigh in every week because I get home late and I am very tired and I just don't have time to do that.  Or, I was following my diet, but I got bored and just quit.

Weighing in regardless of whether or not you have, helps you to keep track of your progress.  Weighing in weekly also makes you more accountable.

If you find you get bored with the meals, find a new recipe and make it healthier.  Try different ingredients and herbs for flavoring.  Make your meals an exciting and healthy adventure.

Consistency is the best tool for keeping us on the right track.  When we are consistent, we can see if our efforts are giving us the results we desire.  It helps us to identify our problem areas that are affecting our weight loss negatively. We will then be able to tackle them and keep moving forward to a healthier us.. 

Unwilling To Change 

I love this one.  I want to lose weight but as a professional, I have a lot of meetings or parties with my friends, and I need to include alcohol in my weight loss program.

Human beings are creatures of habit.  We have the habit of brushing our teeth in the morning; we have the habit of chewing our finger nails or organizing things in a certain way. It is the same with your eating habits. 

Sometimes you may find yourself battling within between your should do's and your want to's..  What I realized, especially at the beginning, is that I needed to concentrate on what my association with food was in order to identify the habits I wanted to change.

A great tool is to start a journal.  This will help you identify what you are doing right or wrong, and you'll be able to make draw up a plan to work in any situation. 

Remember, when we lose weight successfully it doesn't mean our job is done, and we can go back to our old habits.  We have been working way too hard for that, and reverting back to our old patterns of eating would, over time, land us right back where we started. 

Lack Of Information

I know that you have heard this:  I am following the Atkins or the South Beach plan because a lot of people are doing it, but what is it all about?  Or how about this one:  My aunt told me that drinking a lot of water helps to flush out the fat. 

Get the information you need to understand what you are doing and enjoy it.  Listen to the right people.  Everyone can find a diet guru in their families or friends, isn't that right?  But not everyone has the right information.

Lack of Control

I cannot follow the meal plan because I buy Oreo cookies for my kids and I eat them like a maniac.  You cannot control the future, you cannot control the wind, but you CAN CONTROL what you put in your mouth.

Learn to deal with food in a conscientious way.  You can control food cravings by learning to enjoy foods you love in moderation.  Iif you cannot control eating some kinds of foods, like junk food, just don't buy them or put them away to where it is inconvenient to you.  At this time you don't need any temptations.

Learn to deal with emotions in a positive way.  Compared with nibbling, physical activity such as a brisk walk or a bike ride offers a more long lasting calm your moods.  Sometimes even a brief change of scenery does the trick.  Relax with deep breathing or meditation.  If you know what triggers your cravings, avoid them if possible.

Try and wait at least twenty minutes before giving into a craving because this is how long they last.  Try it and get busy, and often times the cravings will pass, then you can prepare to succeed.

We Can Be Full Of Excuses, Instead Of Reasons

My father taught me that excuses are like belly buttons; everybody has one and they have no purpose.  The problem is that it's never the perfect time to lose weight and there will always be obstacles, so you need to come up with options to help through those busy and stressful times.

Look for reasons and not the barricade!  Sit down and write the reasons why you want to lose weight and read them every day if necessary.  Don't dwell on what cannot be done; think positive.  It is like not picking up roses because they have thorns.  When you want something bad enough you will put your excuses aside and will do whatever needs to be done and you know it.

Lack Of Planning And Organization

Planning your week and your day will help you to follow your meal plan.  Planning can include setting goals that you want to accomplish in six months or next week.  Each week there's things that need to be done in order to accomplish the big goal.  Organize your meal plan, your exercise and what goals you are going to achieve for the week so you don’t have to worry constantly about the rest of the week. 

Lack Of Motivation

So what happens when things come up and we don't follow the plan?  Usually most people act like they have failed or they cheated and they just throw their plan out the window and go back to their bad habits.  Get back on track and re-commit yourself to be your healthy best.  Now more than ever, it should be a priority.

Motivation can come from inside, thinking and looking for things that can help you, or from outside, meaning people that can help you stay on track.

Praise yourself for the accomplishments, even the little ones.  Do something for yourself to feel more positive, energetic, and ease your stress.  If you're struggling, step back and look to what you are doing.  Read or listen to something positive each day. Be Extraordinary! Create a Life You Deserve With Anthony Robbins!

So look for things, situations or people that can help you stay on the road! Each and every choice you make has the potential of getting you closer to your goal or taking you farther away. 

Eating Too Little

I eat only once a day and I don't know why I don't lose weight.  No matter which healthy plan you are following, eating too little will not help you at all.  It is a big fallacy that eating less will help you lose faster or more.  Too little calories or food will put your body in starvation mode and your metabolism will slow down to conserve the little energy it is receiving.

Fears

I WEIGH MYSELF EVERY DAY.  Fear is the irrational belief about how something will result in negative, disastrous, disturbing, or unsettling consequences for you.  Fear is the result of giving power to objects of irrational belief, letting it rule you rather than you ruling it.  It is the underlying motive behind many of your actions and lack of action that blocks your thinking, problem solving and decision making abilities.

We fear failing because it is never fun and some of us choose not to risk it.  Might you fail?  Yes you might.  So the thing to do is look back and learn from what happened.

Remember that all situations are related to your thinking:  attitudes, coping skills, your belief in yourself, spiritual wellness, and so forth.  Remember you are your magical fairy dust and your success depends on you.  Do what needs to be done and you will reap rewards and never regret it.

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