Divide Your Weight Loss Effort Into Manageable Challenges

When it comes to weight loss, most people favor tangible efforts like counting calories and measuring portions. However, the physical aspects often need to take a back seat to mental issues, such as the reasons for overeating in the first place. At the heart of the weight-loss argument is set point weight. That means body weight is controlled by your brain and you want to avoid having your body start fighting back against your weight loss efforts.

Whenever your weight changes, your brain will intervene, as it is responsible for maintaining the correct weight. However, what you think your weight should be may or may not be consistent with what your brain prefers. When your weight loss efforts are successful, you become more satisfied with your body image and appearance as well as your health related improvements to your quality of life. But, stick with what works for you.

• What's Holding You Back - 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.
• Establish a Routine - We all make excuses to try to justify our behaviors but this type of excuse won't do you any good when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off. Make yourself accept failures and work to improve them.

• Hone Your Motivation - Giving yourself a pep talk before tackling a challenge can help prepare you to perform better by telling yourself you can. Try chanting to yourself, "I can do it" - "I can do it".
• Tell Yourself You Can Do This - If you are seeking permanent weight loss, you likely have a target weight in mind. Divide your ultimate goal into manageable challenges that can be reached throughout your journey.
• Stay Accountable to Yourself - Making tough decisions can drain your willpower. If you have a support system in place, the system can essentially take the decision-making out of your hands.

In a recent study on obesity, the use of food as a coping mechanism existed in half of the participants and was an obvious source of emotional distress over his or her food choices. Weight loss does not remain linear over time. Once you cut calories, you may drop weight for a while but your body will stabilize. So, to continue losing weight week after week, you should be making subtle adjustments.

If you really intend to improve your health and well-being, don't get too wrapped up in a timeline for your reaching your goals. Tell yourself that every 24 hours comes with new opportunities for success and focus on those. Although food makes you feel loved and comforted during stressful moments, sadly the effects are only temporary. No matter how much you intend to restrict yourself, it is so easy to keep going back for more.