For many people, losing weight is the easy part; it’s keeping it off that’s the struggle. That’s why fad diets or weight loss trends don’t have much staying power. Sure, they’ll help you lose the weight, but most of them aren’t sustainable, so once you’ve reached your next step – maintaining weight loss – you’re left high and dry.
So what is one to do? The first step is realizing that the key to a healthy weight and overall wellness is to resolve to change your lifestyle permanently. Successful weight loss isn’t about New Year’s resolutions or quick fixes; it’s about switching your mindset. You have to realize that this is going to be something you’re going to have to work at. You’re going to have to take each day at a time and make making good choices a long-term habit, rather than a month-long “diet”.
There is actually research in the fields of neuroscience and neuropsychology that shows that people who are able to achieve their goals consistently have similar mental patterns. The good news is that many of these mental patterns can be learned over time, so if these things don’t come naturally to you, you can rewire your brain by practicing them regularly.
Traits of People Who are Successful with Weight Loss
- They focus. In this modern world, it’s hard to stay focused. Even when you’re doing one thing, you’re probably thinking about another. This is distracting and forces you to split your attention. People who are able to focus on the current task – like their workout or their meal – are able to work more efficiently.
- They prioritize. A lot of people say they just don’t have the time to exercise or to prepare healthy meals, but often, the truth is that these things are not a priority. Take an honest look at your life and your schedule. Are you prioritizing what’s important or are you spending too much time on distractions?
- They are organized. Physical clutter translates to mental clutter. When your outside world is in disarray, it’s difficult to stay on track. Clear some physical clutter and watch how that alleviates your mind.
- They have goals. It’s important to have specific goals. It’s not enough to say “I want to get healthy”, you need to know exactly how you plan to get there. Write out action steps and daily or weekly goals.
- They are flexible. Yes, it’s important to have a schedule to keep yourself organized, but it’s also vital that you’re able to roll with the punches. For example, if you wanted to work out in the morning before work, but you overslept, be flexible enough to fit in your workout before dinner, don’t just skip it because you missed your scheduled time.
Do you have any of these traits? Do you have any traits that you think should be added to this list? Let us know!
