Food Is Not Your Friend Nor Your Enemy

Tired of hearing "eat less" and "move more"? It's certainly good advice but those are not the only things that people need to change to lose weight and keep it off. You have to change how you think about weight loss. If you’re ready to fight the cravings and shed pounds, not only will you need to prepare your body but you must conquer the mental side of weight loss as well.

Your mind is a very powerful organ. If you learn to harness its power, you can use mind control in a way that will help you achieve your target weight and long-term weight loss goals. Using pure willpower can help you overcome bad habits and avoid unhealthy cravings, but make certain you change how you think about your well-being to develop a healthier relationship with food.

• Just Say No - Food is neither your enemy nor your friend. That's why it is important to look at all food as a source of nourishment rather than as a reward or bad way to deal with your emotions.
• Dieting Alone Doesn't Work - You may need to remind yourself several times a day how important your weight loss goals are to you. Close your eyes and picture a slimmer you in your mind for added motivation.
• Visual What You Want - Exercise doesn't have to be a burden if you make it an enjoyable pastime-there must be some activity that you can enjoy doing. Moving more with friends can be motivational for the entire group.
• Refuse to Be Discouraged - 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" to bring your "A" Game.
• Enjoy the Diversity - Stock up on healthy foods that have an exciting taste and texture. Choose food items that are naturally crunchy, spicy, tangy, smooth and satisfying.

Everyone has something that is more important to them, so figure out what's going to drive your motivation rather than waking up every morning and winging it. One of the most powerful triggers for emotional eating is food restrictions. When you make things off limits, it is easy to obsess over the deprivation. As willpower only goes so far, all too frequently you end up overeating off limit foods later on.

Setting the wrong goals at the beginning can set you up for failure. The same is true for adopting a goal that is too vague, so set smart goals that are attainable and meaningful to you. Spend a little time worrying about what comes next. Keep in mind that making healthier choices is a way of practicing self healthcare, where food is not the reward and exercise is not the punishment but both can help you look and feel your best.