We often say that weight loss and weight loss maintenance isn’t about food.  It’s not even about exercise. 

It’s about YOUR MIND.

Have I lost my mind?

I’m not trying to talk some voodoo psychic messaging on you … it’s just that your mind is more powerful than anything else when it comes to successful weight management.

In other words, you need a mindset shift.

Think about it … what aspects of our lives are controlled by our mind?

The answer: EVERYTHING! If you tell yourself you will always “struggle” with weight loss, you will. You’re right. If you believe you are “too busy” to exercise and things aren’t going to change. You won’t make the time – you WILL be too busy.

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re probably right.” Zig Ziglar

How can we make that adjustment – what we call “the mindset shift?”

We need this to be successful on all levels: personal, financial, physical, mental, etc.

In our boot camps, we reframe the words “I hope,” “I can’t,” “I wish I could.” There is nothing positive about these statements.

Think about your own life. A UCLA study showed that kids heard the word “no” over FOUR HUNDRED times each day.

Think that influences their thoughts? Of course.

For instance, when things go wrong, instead of criticizing yourself, work on focusing on the positive, your strengths, and talents.

Try reframing your thoughts: Instead of: “I can’t be successful at weight loss, I have tried so many times in the past—I just wish I looked like my friends.” Try: “I am in complete control of my body and fueling it with the most nutritious foods that will allow me to feel even better and lose fat.” Imagine thinking THAT each morning vs. the first statement!  We simply need a mindset shift.

Our minds play funny games and it’s often because of the continual negative messages we hear and the blame we put on others. But in reality, no one can “fix” you, but you.

Here’s another way to think about it.  In the winter, if it’s 55 degrees, we’re all running around in shorts celebrating the "heat wave."  In the summer, that same 55 degrees is like a glacier is making its way through your back yard

See?  Mindset Shift.  That’s all it takes for permanent success!

Our mind plays tricks on us. But just like you are in control of the foods you put into your body, to fuel your muscles, cells, etc, think of the messages you read and hear as fuel for your brain. Your brain needs the right fuel too. Feed it junk, and you’ll have junky thoughts. This is one of the best books out there for helping with that mindset shift.

I struggled with my weight a lot when I was younger.

And now I do what it takes to maintain … I eat well and train on a regular basis. 

But what’s interesting is that I often hear people say "oh, you can "afford" eating that, you’re lean."  Or "you exercise so much, it doesn’t matter if you miss a day."

Really?

Can I (and anyone else) "afford" eating whatever they want just because we may not be overweight?

Did you know data suggests people who are thin and don’t exercise are less healthy than people who are overweight and do?

Just because a person may not gain weight as easily as someone else doesn’t mean they should live off Big Mac’s and soft drinks. 

Thin doesn’t mean healthy.  Lean doesn’t mean healthy.  They can, but they certainly don’t go hand in hand.

Eating well 90% of the time helps.  Coupling that with regular exercise and moving as much as possible throughout the rest of the day will ultimately get you where you want to be.

But I don’t care how "thin" or lean you are. 

Fueling your body with junk and never exercising — and I certainly know thin people who do both of those — is a recipe for disaster. Just because the body of your car is in great shape doesn’t mean the engine is running well.

Eat well.  Train hard.  No one can "afford" to overlook either of those … regardless of your body weight.

Are we on the same page?  Leave a comment and let us know what you think …