Mind Over Matter: A Cliché?

For most of us who are or have been overweight for any length of time there is a mental block even when we actually lose weight. For me, I have lost almost 200 pounds and still when I look in the mirror everyday I tend to see 405 pounds starring back at me. After making the decision to do something about my weight and health I had to slowly begin to change the image of myself held in my mind. Notice I said slowly. This mental image is not going to change overnight, after all it took many years for this image to form and it will take some mental work for it to change.

I know this sounds “new agey”, but I started using daily affirmations. Every morning after I get out of the shower I look at myself in the mirror and I mentally tell myself that I am getting thinner, that my efforts are working, that my body composition is changing. I tell myself that I like the way I am starting to look and that everyday I am getting better and better. Every night when I lay down to sleep I close my eyes and I actually visualize myself as a very healthy and physically fit person, I see myself with the body I want to have.

Some may laugh at these simplistic methods, but if it works then I say let them laugh. Of course, everyone’s results will vary depending on their determination and persistence. But even if these methods simply make you feel better about yourself and feel more motivated the they are worth the effort.

Let me conclude this post by saying that there are other more complex methods I use every day. I will post those methods in a later post.