Think Energy Balance to Better Manage What You Eat

The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States is over $150 billion, and obesity-related health conditions include some of the leading causes of preventable or premature death. Losing weight causes the body to signal that there's an energy shortage, which activates a region of the brain associated with motivation and desire, and not as a trigger in the area of the brain that promotes self-control.

Mindful eating is simply taking a moment before you eat to check-in with yourself, break free from the grip of food cravings and start enjoying eating once again. It all goes back to your mental attitude. If you think negatively about your weight, you're more likely to indulge in unhealthy habits that can obviously put a damper on your life. Moreover, if you choose to think positively, you lose weight and live a healthier life by believing in yourself.

• Focus on Long-Term Habits - It is important to identify what has been keeping you from reaching your goals. Once you've identified the obstacles to weight loss success, finding the willpower to avoid overindulgence will be easier.
• Hang with Other Dieters - Committing to achievable goals is the first step toward developing an action plan that will help you reach them. Once you've committed, it is much easier to stay on track each day by knowing what lies ahead.
• Refuse to Be Discouraged - There are so many diets and exercise programs available for today's dieter but none of them will work for you if you are not mentally ready to change your life.
• Think Energy Balance - The clearer you hear you body's hunger signals, the better you will be able to manage what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat.
• Avoid Emotional Eating - Putting a buddy system in place is one of the best ways to prevent over consumption when emotional or stressful eating are difficult to ignore. Identify activities that help to reduce stress, such as exercising, stretching or meditating.

Weight loss is a $60 billion dollar a year industry that too often depicts losing weight as simple as 1-2-3. Unfortunately, the reality of long-term success is complex and requires determination and commitment. Losing weight and keeping it off requires more than a physical commitment to eating better or exercising more. The wrong mental approach can lead to powerful negative effects that cause many dieters to abandon their weight loss plans.

If you think you will fail, you will. If you know you are going to succeed, you will. To lose weight faster, change your attitude. You can assume that anyone who has successfully lost weight and kept it off failed at some other part of his or her program. The difference is they never gave up and continued on their weight loss quest. Although you cannot change the past, attitude is often more important than facts. You have a choice every day regarding your attitude and that should dictate your actions.