Think Slim
Author: Nancy Gewargis

When it comes to weight loss, too much emphasis is placed on the body and not enough on the mind. After all, our actions are first a thought. Weight loss must first start in the mind and follow through to the physical actions we take. That is when real and lasting results happen! The following activities will help you lose weight and keep it off!

Believe it will happen

A belief is the acceptance that an idea is true. If we believe that something, in this case weight loss, will never happen for us, then we will actualise that belief. When this happens, we'll say to ourselves 'I knew it, I failed again'.

As humans, we subconsciously try to prove our beliefs right. We filter out the comments and evidence that will prove our beliefs wrong and keep the ones that confirm our beliefs, whether right or wrong. These beliefs are usually so deeply ingrained that sometimes we are not aware of them. They are in our subconscious. Therefore beliefs are usually self fulfilling prophecies. That is why it is important to look at your beliefs and check whether they are doing you harm, if they are, replace them with positive beliefs and affirm them regularly.
So the first step to losing weight is to BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN! The fact is that if you don't have some kind of impeding medical condition, you CAN lose weight. If you are genuinely unable to lose weight, see your doctor.

Be kind to yourself

Our society glorifies the slim body image through magazines, T.V and virtually all forms of media. But when you think about it, what does it mean to be overweight? There are tribes in Africa that believe that the heavier a woman is, the more attractive she is. Men of these cultures seek heavy women and do their best to keep them heavy. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ofcourse exercising and eating right is the lifestyle we should strive to live, for obvious reasons, however if you are overweight, don't be hard on yourself. Today is a new day and it can be the beginning of a slimmer you. Seek your beauty and you will find it. Be confident with who you are and exude that confidence. Think of the body fat as stored energy that you are going to start spending. That's all it is!

Understand your pattern of eating

Understanding your pattern of eating is an important part of losing weight. Do you eat when you are stressed? Do you eat when you are bored? Do you overeat? Understanding your eating habits is the start to changing that pattern for the better. If you are eating when you feel stressed or depressed, you should deal with your negative emotions in other ways. The first step is to realise that you are eating for the wrong reasons. Once you do, deal with the stress. There are many ways to do that without food; one way is to keep a journal and write out your feelings. Look at the adverse effects of eating when stressed and remind yourself of this when you are about to eat unnecessarily. Ultimately you have to give yourself love and support through hard times and not turn to food for that comfort.

Visualisations and affirmations daily

Visualisation is the process of seeing your goal's intended result in your mind. Affirmations are simple repeated statements. Daily visualisation and affirmation exercises re-program your subconscious mind to believe what you are telling it and to reach the desired/imagined goal. You are replacing your toxic negative thoughts with new positive thoughts.

Think about what you eat

Eating right is a big part of the weightloss equation. Basically, food provides us with energy. If we don't use up the energy we consume, our body stores it for a rainy day. Monitoring your fat intake is key in maximising the effects of exercise. Think before you eat. Look for recipes that are low in fat, plan your weekly meals and ensure that you have the required ingredients ahead of time.

Exercise is necessary to lose weight the right way, but in the beginning, Think Slim!






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nancy Gewargis is the founder of Clarity Coaching, an organisation dedicated to giving clients strategies to live their dreams. For more information go to: www.claritycoaching.com.au

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------