With Summer just about here, there’s a lot of talk of swimming in the pool or heading to the beach. Naturally, the next topic of discussion that usually follows beach season is weight loss. Many people are concerned with how they look in their bathing suits and they want to lose those few extra pounds.
When it comes to losing weight, we all know that diet and exercise are key. But what’s not talked about as much, yet is equally important, is your mindset. If you don’t have the mental toughness to stick to your diet and exercise program, you’re never going to be successful in your weight loss endeavor.
The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to be in the right frame of mind to take on the challenges that often show up while on a diet. Here are 10 of them.
10 Ways to Get Your Brain Ready for Summer Fat Loss
1. Know why you’re dieting
Every day, write down the five most important reasons you must lose weight and get healthy until you hit your ideal weight. This will burn them into your mind and keep you on track. Your why is equally important to how you’re going to do it.
2. Expect to build the body of your dreams
Expectations are self-imposed and can be upgraded at any time. Decide today to expect to develop the body of your dreams. Look for pictures in magazines of people with bodies you would like to have and tape them on poster board so you can see them every day. Build this image into your mind and expect it to happen. This will drive you to behave in ways that lead you to your expected result.
3. Have supreme confidence
If you lack self-confidence because of past failures, don’t feel bad because you’re in the majority. Decide today to grow up emotionally by getting tough with yourself and gutting it out for 21-30 days. Your success will give you the confidence you need to pursue your next goal.
4. Make a do or die commitment
Examine your commitment level to getting fit from your actions of the last seven days. If you’re off track, forgive yourself and start over today on the path of 100 percent compliance.
5. Employ the power of persistence
Identify five different times in your life when you persisted until you succeeded, and write them down. Read them every morning for the next seven days and immerse yourself in the consciousness it took to persevere.
6. Build a team of supporters
There’s no need to suffer silently. Contact three of your closest friends or family members and ask them to be on your support team. It’s easy to quit when you’re on your own, but letting down a team of people who care about you is a different story.
7. Reward yourself for execution
Just for today, give yourself a small (non-food) reward if you are 100 percent compliant with your diet and exercise program and notice how it makes you feel. If it works, implement new rewards every day or at least once a week. Once the struggle is over and your new habits are in place, you won’t need rewards. You’ll feel so good physically and mentally you’ll wonder why you didn’t get fit sooner.
8. Have a sense of urgency
Decide to get fit now instead of later. Not next week. Not after the summer. Not after your birthday. Do it now, while there’s still time. Do it now, while you still have a choice.
9. Get around people who support your goal
Make a decision to distance yourself from people who refuse to support you in your fitness goals. Your life is at stake, and this calls for drastic measures. Just say no to spending time with people unless they are in harmony with your biggest goals and dreams.
10. Never say die
Decide you will do whatever it takes to get fit and that you will never say die. This isn’t a game. If you fail, you will continue to struggle with weight and get sicker. The only thing separating you from a life of disease and a life of abundant health is a rock solid decision. Make it today and watch your energy soar.
The Takeaway
If you’ve had trouble losing weight and find yourself jumping from diet to diet with little to no results, stop beating yourself up. Make the decision that this time is going to be different for real, and focus on your mindset.
Are your thoughts, beliefs and philosophies about dieting really congruent with the way you’re leading your life? Are they really in line with being successful or are they setting you up for failure?
If you want to reap the rewards of better health and a better body, it all starts in your mind.
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Steve Siebold is author of Die Fat or Get Tough: 101 Differences in Thinking Between Fat People and Fit People.
Featured photo by Phil Gradwell