Food Is Not a Reward and Exercise Is Not a Punishment

Current research suggests that our healthcare system and providers struggle to furnish the level and type of support that people living with obesity need for effective weight management. This suggests a need for greater focus on quality of life factors, such as the individual's social well-being. 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. In the future, weight loss plans may take more of a multidisciplinary approach to maintaining a healthy weight through self-regulation and activation of certain regions of the brain. 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.

• Hone Your Motivation - 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.
• Exercise Can Be Fun - You will likely benefit more from getting up and going for a brisk walk than you would from sleeping an extra 15 minutes, so get moving in the morning. You will feel more alert, focused and energized for the rest of the day.
• Set Small Goals - Research studies suggest that dieting alone does not work well for long-term weight loss as the body has a natural tendency to maintain body weight to prevent starvation when food is scarce.
• Understanding Weight Gain - To retrain your mind, do not allow your mental fantasies to include unhealthy foods or bad lifestyle behaviors. You may have numerous food cravings but the goal is to train your mind to let them go.
• Have Realistic Expectations - You may need to remind yourself several times a day of how important your weight loss goals are to you. Close your eyes and picture a slimmer you in your mind for added motivation.

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. If you believe you can muscle your way to weight loss success, you might think again. Although super frustrating at times, your psychological well-being may be equally as important for shedding pounds.

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. Losing weight is tough but you do not have to abandon your "live healthy" pursuits. You do have to accept that it takes more effort than simply not eating as much or you will likely lose out to your body's starvation response. When your weight loss efforts are successful, you become more satisfied with your body image.