Change Your Mind, Conquer Your Body.

It is very common for people cling to the next quick-fix deep down hoping that it will work. Maybe they are even currently participating in a program and experiencing results, but move on to the “next new thing” hoping to receive those results faster. Experimenting with all these frequent, new weight-loss fads has led us to a culture of people who have “tried it all, yet nothing works.” 
 
I witness it all the time. People come to me having tried every diet and workout under the sun. They lack progress or find themselves in worse shape than when they begun. After speaking for several minutes about their past experiences, I can safely say for the majority of individuals, the problem is not the programs they have tried. The problem and the solution lies between their two ears. They were too busy chasing after immediate results to stop and change their mind-set! 
 
Here are just a few of the mindful strategies that I incorporate when approaching a lifestyle change with my clients:

Allow yourself enough time. Don’t wait until the last minute to try to fit into that sexy dress. When it comes to losing weight and keeping it off, slow and steady wins the race! Healthy weight-loss can range from one to two pounds per week. Realize that you might not have a perfect week each week, there may be hiccups, and over-estimate the amount of time needed to reach your goal. Give yourself plenty of time to be successful.
 
Be kind to yourself. We are all human, we all have temptations and we aren’t always going to be strong enough to avoid giving-in. If you have a moment of weakness, learn from it and move on. Before you begin the negative self-talk, think of how you would speak to someone you love dearly. Would you scold them? Or would you say, stuff happens, don’t beat yourself up? Take your own advice and do the same when talking to yourself! You will find that being kind will get you further in the long-run.
 
Recognize and celebrate the small victories. The visible benefits of adding fitness and good nutrition to your lifestyle don’t only reflect on the scale. There are a lot of benefits you can see if you open your mind! Better sleep, brain-power, mood, endurance, and strength are just a few of the positives you may experience. Don’t always focus on that number on the scale. When you notice some of those non-scale victories, be proud of them and celebrate! The more positive associations you have with creating this new healthy lifestyle, the better!
 
It is human nature to crave instant gratification, instant results. However, when approaching a lasting lifestyle change, we need to keep ourselves in check. Permanent results come from permanent changes. We must allow our new lifestyle to settle-in in every facet: mental (first), emotional, & physical. Without starting off with the proper mind-set making a lasting change will darn-near impossible. You must first change your mind in order to conquer your body.

Be brave. Be kind. Be defiant!