Be warned: This is a confronting topic. Many who struggle with their weight are actually sabotaging their success in one or more ways.
The worst saboteurs are the ‘lies’ we tell ourselves, particularly as the words and thoughts appear to be true. Have you ever thought:
Sabotaging thought |
| I can’t lose weight. |
| All my family are big and this is my destiny. |
| I have a slow metabolism. |
| It’s not fair that I can’t eat <insert food>. |
| I’m big, it’s just the way I am. |
| I have no willpower. |
While some of these may have an element of truth, they are not the entire story. Nothing is ever so simple as to have just one thread or idea that dictates everything.
Instead of accepting the thought as the full story, add to it so that it has the chance of leading to a different result:
Sabotaging thought | Add to the story |
| I can’t lose weight… | … if I continue to make the same choices that have led me to be this weight. |
| All my family are big and this is my destiny… | … and if I continue doing what I have been doing this is my destiny. |
| I have a slow metabolism… | … but so do many others and they have lost weight. |
| It’s not fair that I can’t eat <insert food>… | … but there are many wonderful foods that I like and that will keep me satisfied so I can lose weight. |
| I’m big, it’s just the way I am… | … because of the choices I’ve made. I don’t have to stay this way. |
| I have no willpower… | … but a program that tells me when and what to do means I don’t have to rely on willpower. |
Now, if you really want to overcome the ‘lie’ you’ve been telling yourself, expand the story some more. Add details that make your choices, behaviours, and course of action crystal clear.
Sabotaging thought | Add to the story | Tell the full weight loss story |
| I can’t lose weight… | … if I continue to make the same choices that have led me to be this weight… | … I’m excited at being able to make choices that will help me achieve my goals. |
| All my family are big and this is my destiny… | … and if I continue doing what I have been doing this is my destiny… | … It’s time to implement the changes that will help me achieve my goals. |
| I have a slow metabolism… | … but so do many others and they have lost weight… | … The difference between a slow or fast metabolism is minimal. The bigger difference is in the choices I can now make. |
| It’s not fair that I can’t eat <insert food>… | … but there are many wonderful foods that I like and that will keep me satisfied so I can lose weight… | … Fresh, healthy foods nourish my body and my mind, and I appreciate the abundance of choices that are available to me. |
| I’m big, it’s just the way I am… | … because of the choices I’ve made. I don’t have to stay this way… | … It’s time for me to make different food and exercise choices. |
| I have no willpower… | … but a program that tells me when and what to do means I don’t have to rely on willpower… | … Getting specialised support to help me stick to the guidelines of my program will help me gradually build on my willpower. |
It may be that it’s time you stopped telling yourself the ‘lies’ that have been holing you back. Try telling yourself the whole story, and see what a difference it makes.