Think yourself Thin: Ways to make it work

Article by Kathryn Thompson, Body Transformation Coach - Belfast

We are all familiar with the saying” It’s a case of mind over matter”, but Have your ever thought about this simple advice in the context of losing weight?

A US study of nearly 200 men and women found that those with a healthy body image were more than twice as successful at achieving weight loss as those with an unhealthy body image – 55% compared to 26% achieved their goals. Positive thinking and good self-image are key factors in successful weight loss. Our mind is in many ways like a magnet and we gravitate toward what we think about most. We move unconsciously and consistently toward whatever we focus on.

The paradox here is that if a person continually concentrates on what she does not either have or want, she will get more of this and less of what she does want. Focusing on what’s wrong means never finding what’s right. The flip side of this is that people who celebrate what life gives them and always look for and expect the best find it.

A familiar self sabotaging pattern is this: You have joined a weight loss programme. You begin exercising and eating healthily. Within a few weeks you are already well on the way to your goal weight. When you look in the mirror however you are still dissatisfied with what you see. Instead of re-focusing on your plan and on your desired result you instead look a where your body is now rather than where you are taking it. Frustrated you pull the plug on your diet. Over time you gain back the weight – and the misery. It is common for people to work on their bodies whilst neglecting their minds.

An analogy would be building a beautiful car, painting it and polishing it until it gleamed but not putting an engine under the bonnet. Would you be surprised that it did not go? Many dieters do the physical equivalent of just this by working on their bodies and not their thoughts and beliefs. They also view healthy eating as a form of punishment when really it should be the other way around – eating highly processed “junk” food is much more punishing for your body. Instead of focusing on how much weight you have to lose, the positive thought is to focus on how slim and healthy you are going to be. Visualise how fit and energetic you will feel and the clothes you will be wearing. Rather than all the foods you have to “give up”, your perspective shifts to the great foods you are now eating and how much better you feel.

If the words your unconscious hears are all negative and self-defeating, especially when they are focused on your own body, that becomes an ingrained pattern, which needs to be challenged.

Here are some “think thin” mental exercises – remember your mind will gain strength and proficiency with these just as your body does if you train it regularly.

Pay attention to your self talk

See the world realistically

Recognise and acknowledge your special qualities

Put you body back together! Most people with negative self images have dissected their body into good and bad parts, for example “I like my stomach but not my thighs and bottom”.

Reconnect with your body by appreciating how it all works so well and the great things it enables you to do.

Remember the child inside you. Inside all of us is the child we used to be – the one who didn’t have to be perfect and worry about everything. Let her out to play! Scatter small pleasures throughout your day

Enjoy your food Develop emotional resilience. It’s ok to make a mistake or slip up. What differentiates those who ultimately success from those who do not is their resilience and ability to pick right up again and carry on. Be Active Thrive!

Live in a way which has meaning and purpose for you. Living congruently with your beliefs and values will ensure you feel good about who you are and how you look.

You are a unique and amazing person – don’t forget it. A health, happy and fit life can all be yours – all you need to do is see it and embrace it

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