by Dale Kelley
Capital Region Fitness
What if I could hook you up to some sort of new fangled breath analysis machine that could determine exactly how many calories, what food choices, and what supplements you'd need to lose weight and become more physically fit? I were able to prescribe for you the best diet or eating plan – what do you think would happen?
I’ll tell you what would happen. You wouldn’t follow it.
Don’t believe me?
You already know how to “eat right”. You know you should eat more fruits and vegetables. You know you shouldn’t have that extra slice of pizza, that McD’s, the Whopper AND the cheesecake (does BK cheesecake even taste good?). But still you do it!
How many people do you know who’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, etc., who fail to make the changes required to stay alive?
Why is it so hard for people to make lifestyle changes – even in the face of death? Well, unless they really don’t want to change, the three biggest roadblocks are:
Habits. These are the ingrained set of day to day food and activity related actions. Habits remain poor because people don’t have a conscious, logical plan for changing them.
Do you even have a plan? Is this your plan: “I’m trying to eat better.” (If that’s your plan, do yourself a favor and enroll in my 8 week weight loss workshop!)
Habits are more powerful than momentary desire. Habits are more powerful than information and knowing the difference between healthy and unhealthy food choices. Habits can even be more powerful than the desire to live. And only a concerted, conscious effort to override habits will lead to success.
So, in some respects, better nutrition is more about altering lifestyle habits and less about the food. Sure, you have to know which foods are good to eat and plan to eat them; but knowing is only half the battle. Even if you know what’s good, if the good foods aren’t around when it’s time to eat – what happens?
They aren’t ready for the tough times. Things might be going great; then the tough times hit. People "get busy". Eating right becomes inconvenient. "I didn't have time - I had to stop at Taco Bell." No one else supports their decision to make a change. The list of rationalizations and excuses is endless!
Beliefs. Do you believe that following your healthy eating plan or diet will get you to where you want to be? Or, are you just trying anything and everything hoping you’ll stumble on something that will work?
I should have listed beliefs first, as it is probably the most important point of this article.
Your beliefs about yourself, your abilities and your level of willpower; your beliefs about dieting, weight loss, nutrition, fitness; your ideas and beliefs about these subjects will ultimately determine your success or failure.
We all know it's possible to lose weight. We see it on “The Biggest Loser”. Maybe we know someone who's been successful at losing weight. Maybe you've even lost weight but gained it back! But, do you really believe, deep down inside without a shred of doubt, that you will get to where you want to be? And stay there? Do you, really? Is weight loss possible – for you - not someone else - for YOU?
If you can’t answer that question with a definitive YES!, without any shred of doubt whatsoever; if you can’t envision yourself living in your ideal body - then I have the perfect “plan” for you! It’s easy too! You don’t even have to get out of bed to do it! Can you imagine that? Lose weight while lounging on the couch? I kid you not!
Here it is – the secret to weight loss success: Start believing. I promise you, you can lose weight. You can achieve your goals.
Here, I’ll prove it. For the next seven days – either before you get out of bed in the morning or before you fall asleep at night, spend five minutes doing some self-hypnosis. Spend that five minutes envisioning yourself standing on top of the Empire State Building, flap your arms like a bird, jump off and fly away. I guarantee, by the end of the seven days that you will actually be able to fly.
What? You don’t believe me? Did you even bother to try it? Or did you come up with a list of reasons why you couldn't do it?
Do you believe you can stick to a diet and workout plan long enough to lose weight? Do you believe that if you do stick with it that you'll get the results you want?
No? Then why bother trying to lose weight if you won't try the flying thing?
My point is this – the outer reflects the inner. What you believe is what you’ll get. You have my personal 80000% double your money back guarantee on that.
If you believe you “might” lose weight – then, you're right. You might.
If you believe you can’t lose weight, then you won’t. The same way you won't try my flying exercise. Even if you tried the visualization, you'd never actually jump off the Empire State Building and try to fly. Would you?
If you know that you can lose weight – you will, provided you are willing to do the hard work required. Are you willing?
Dale Kelley
NASM Certified Trainer
ACE Certified Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant
http://capitalregionfitness.com
Sections