Losing Weight is number one New Year's Resolution
If your New Year's
Resolution is to lose
weight, here is a plan
to help you be successful.
By the new year's end,
you can be slimmer,
healthier and happier.
The key to achieving
weight loss, or
accomplishing any
goal, is believing you
can succeed. Losing
weight can be a positive,
life-changing experience-
not because you are slimmer
but because of what you can learn about yourself along the way.
This is not a diet plan. It is a plan to help you take control of your life and help you move in more positive directions. In the process you will become more the person you really want to be.
Purchase a spiral notebook. Write down your ideal weight.
Next, list the reasons you want to be that weight. How will it change your life? When you reach your goal weight, how do you expect to feel? Try to keep your wording positive. Instead of saying "I don't want others to see me as fat", substitute "I want to see myself as slimmer and healthier."
Make a list of what you believe you could do to attain your ideal weight.
Make a list of activities you think you might enjoy which will also help you exercise. Would you like some support with your weight loss? Grab some friends with similar goals and start a walking club. If the weather is bad, meet at the local mall before it opens and walk. You might be surprised to meet some other walkers there. Perhaps a class would help motivate you- try something new that you haven’t tried before.
Achieving your weight goal
When focusing on goals, any goals. the most important thing you can do is to picture yourself as already having achieved the goal. Begin your day with this brief exercise.
Sit quietly, close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths to relax. Picture yourself at your ideal weight. How do you feel? What sorts of things would you do? Picture yourself going shopping for clothes in your new size. Make this picture and feeling as real as possible with as many details as possible.
Affirmations to achieve your weight goal
Say to yourself, “I am healthy, happy and slim. I make healthy choices about what I eat. I am at peace and in harmony with this healthier me.”
Next, take some time each morning to read through your lists and ask yourself. "What can I do today to achieve my new picture of myself?"
Write down these words in your notebook, "As you think, so shall you be." Thoughts are energy. What kind of energy do you want in your life? Do you want helpful, positive energy to surround you in your endeavors? Then begin with your own thoughts.
There is a saying, “There is no way to happiness. Happiness IS the way.”
Be happy, be kind to yourself. This is the way to attract more kindness and happiness into your life.
Some important hints to help you achieve your goal:
Live each day mindfully. Rather than put off happiness for some future day when you're "skinny" think about the present moment-the only one you have really. What makes you happy in the present moment? a loving spouse, children, pets, your job? If you have nothing in your life but weight loss to bring you feelings of happiness or sadness, then perhaps you should cultivate people or activities in your life that DO bring you joy.
Eat mindfully. Rather than hating food and blaming it for your weight problem, learn to really love food. Get some low-calorie, low fat recipes off the internet and make some new, healthy dishes. Make your meals attractive. Eat slowly and savor every bite. Really take the time to taste what you eat. Keep the meal conversations pleasant. Think of eating as an enjoyable process that should be relished.
Through you day, pay attention to your thoughts. Try to always reach for more positive thoughts. If you get down and feeling bad about life, it won't help you achieve your goal. What thoughts would help you achieve your goal? Remember, YOU control your thoughts and feelings. No one else.
Subscribe to a magazine on health or read books about achieving a healthier lifestyle. Knowing the problems you will avoid by eating in a healthy way and keeping your weight at a healthy level will motivate you to choose a healthy path to weight loss.
Read some inspirational literature such as “Manifest Your Destiny” or “The Power of Intention” by Dr. Wayne Dyer. Read books by Dr. Andrew Weil on living a healthy lifestyle. Such books will help you change your thoughts about not only your weight but your life.
Take up meditation or yoga to help you relax and think more positive thoughts.
Above all, don’t give up. Keep your picture of the person you want to be fresh in your mind’s eye. You may be surprised at how people and events begin appearing in your life to support your new direction in life.
Once you have achieved your goal of weight loss, choose another goal and use these same principals to achieve it.
© Copyright 2007-12 by Path2HealthyLiving
