When you think of losing weight, what comes to mind? Chances are, the first things that cross your mind are eating healthy, exercising regularly, and staying on top of your physical health. But did you know that your mental health has a lot to do with weight loss too? When we feel like our body isn’t perfect, or we are struggling to stay on track with a healthy diet and exercise, our heads may be filled with negative thoughts. Am I good enough? Am I capable of achieving my lifelong goals? What happens if I fail? Should I just give up? The truth is, a negative mindset can sometimes set us up for failure before we’ve even begun. Read on to learn more about the power of positive self-talk in helping you achieve your weight loss goals.
What Is Positive Self-Talk?
Many people don’t take notice of the dialogue that’s running inside their heads every day. But it’s this self-talk that provides your running inner monologue while you’re awake, and it often has an impact on your sense of self. This dialogue is influenced by your subconscious mind and may also be affected by your mood and stress level, and external factors like who you’re with. For example, if you’re happy and surrounded by people who lift you up, you might have positive thoughts running through your head, while if you’re having a bad day or around negative people, your self-talk may be anxious, negative, or unhappy.
Positive self-talk is keeping this inner dialogue constructive and hopeful, even if things may not be at their best in your daily life. Research shows that people with a positive inner dialogue have improved performance in day-to-day tasks, and better overall physical and mental health. Positive self-talk can help you overcome obstacles, solve problems, and cope effectively with the challenges of everyday life. But keeping yourself in a positive frame of mind can be a challenge, especially if you’ve spent much of your life thinking negatively. Luckily, even children can learn to challenge negative thoughts and take on a more positive outlook. It just takes a little practice!
How To Reach Your Weight Loss Goals By Improving Your Inner Voice
If you want to improve your inner voice, you’ve already taken the first step by examining yourself. Being aware that you sometimes think negative things is a powerful realization that many people go their whole lives without understanding.
- Be conscious of when you’re thinking negatively.
- What is causing your current thoughts and mood?
- Are they stemming from something external like a problem at work or in a relationship? Realize that these problems don’t own you and they don’t define who you are.
- When you face an issue, remind yourself that it’s temporary. Will it still be a problem tomorrow? Next week? Next year? Most likely, this isn’t the case.
Tell yourself that everyone, even your most successful friends or relatives, often run into issues in their personal lives or experience feelings of self-doubt. It’s part of being human, so give yourself some grace. If you heard someone you love saying they weren’t good enough, you’d likely try to convince them the opposite. So why would you let your own thoughts tell you this? Treat yourself like a good friend, and give gentle love and encouragement.
Any weight loss journey you embark on is going to have highs and lows. There will undoubtedly be days that will be a struggle, there will be days when you do wonderfully, and there will be days when you feel that you have completely failed. There is no shame in having bad days. Never let yourself believe that you aren’t good enough because you’ve had a bad day.
When you find yourself having a negative thought, take a step back, and think about what part of that thought may not be true. Examine where the negativity may be coming from, and gently let it go. Realize that negative self-talk does serve a purpose sometimes. It gives you a clear idea of where you think you need to improve and what you may be able to do better. But often, this inner voice can be too harsh. Stop the thought in its tracks, recognize what it stems from, and try to correct it with a constructive, realistic, and positive thought.
Get Started On The Path To Positivity
When mapping out your weight loss journey, take into account that there will be roadblocks. Things won’t always go as planned. Sometimes these things are in your control, and sometimes they aren’t. Set these goals for yourself, not for anyone else, and make sure you define your goals clearly so you can track your progress along the way.
Start by writing down a list of the negative thoughts that you find yourself having. Putting them down on paper can help you visualize them and see why they may not be correct. Next, make a list of affirmations that work for you. When you find yourself having a negative thought, replace it with an affirmation. Instead of thinking “I’m out of shape anyway, so why even bother working out?” think, “I’m strong and capable of getting into shape if I give myself time and work on it a little every day.” Why the first part of that initial thought (“I’m out of shape”) may be true, the second part of the thought is where the negativity lies. Being out of shape doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bother, it can be the impetus needed to get you started in the right direction. “I’m out of shape, but I can get stronger, faster, and healthier,” is a much better way to frame that sentiment.
Changing your self-talk can change your life. When you work to have a can-do attitude, you’ll find things falling into place. You’ll recover from setbacks quicker and easier, and get creative about overcoming challenges.
If you’re ready to change your outlook and get on the path towards a healthier life, contact us to help you craft your personal weight loss plan. Our experienced healthcare professionals are ready to help you achieve your weight loss goals and we are here every step of the way to help you succeed.
