There are few things more frustrating than not being able to lose weight. You want to be slimmer and to tone your body, but your weight won’t budge. Sometime though, it’s not the amount of cardio you do or which exercise you bust out but more of a mindset. Take a look at these mental roadblocks and apply them to yourself to discover what is standing in your way and how to quickly and easily begin your weight loss journey.
Blocker #1: Your mind
Your mind is your number one ally when it comes to achieving your goals. However, until your mind has been programmed for success, it will do more to derail your efforts than to help you. Take a few moments each day to visualize yourself at your ideal weight. Imagine how it feels to look the way you’ve always wanted.
Protect your mind from any negative self talk. If a negative thought comes to mind, immediately reject it. You want to be thin and fit and yet you think of yourself as out-of-shape and fat. Re-program your mind to think of yourself as fit and attractive, and you will be well on your way toward achieving your goal.
Blocker #2: Your fear
Change makes most of us nervous. You may not be consciously aware of the fear you have of getting into shape. Until you conquer this fear, your weight loss efforts will be blocked by self sabotage.
Professional speaker and author Anthony Robbins has outlined three specific beliefs that you must have in order to conquer your fear and instantly create a lasting change.
Believe that something must change. You can’t be wishy-washy about it. You’ve got to be rock solid. Believe that you must change it. Other people will prove to be great assets in your journey, but in the end you are the one who is going to make it happen. You have to want this weight loss enough to make it your personal mission.
Believe you can change it. You may have failed in the past, but that doesn’t matter. When you put your mind to it, you’re able to do amazing things.
Blocker #3: Your excuses
Your excuses for being out of shape are getting old. An excuse takes less immediate effort than an action, but in the long run the action taker always has the advantage. Don’t allow excuses to ruin your life any longer. Remember that you can only have two things in life: excuses or results. Which do you want?
Blocker #4: Your commitment
How many times have you tried to lose weight, only to give up a week or two later? Treat exercise with the same importance as a work meeting and you’ll never skip it at the last minute. Find three available 60-minute time slots in your schedule and mark them (in pen) on your calendar. Now stick to your schedule.
Blocker #5: Your patience
It takes time to transform your body from fat to fit. Remind yourself that it took time to put the weight on, so it will take time to take the weight off. When you find your patience wavering, or when you encounter a frustrating plateau, do the following: Review your goal. Is it specific and measurable? Is it small and attainable, rather than monumental? Focus on your goal when the going gets tough. Make each workout a new experience. Challenge your body with different resistance, new exercises and a varied pace. Remember that anyone can have one great workout, but that won’t get you the body you want. The only way to achieve your goal is by consistently exercising and eating right, plain and simple.
Get serious about your results and begin the last weight loss program that you’ll ever do.
Jack Wheeler is a personal trainer and owner of 360 Fitness in Red Deer. He can be reached at 403-347-1707 or check out www.360fitness.ca for more information.
