Most people will already be aware that certain areas of their lifestyle could use some improvement but for various reasons have been putting them off. The pressure and stress of building a career or raising a family can push anyone into a rut where changes seem so hard to make. These changes must be tackled if we are to successfully rid our body of excess fat forever.
One of a person's most formidable barriers to change is his/her own psychology. Some people place limits on their ability to become healthy. Rather than believe and trust that change can take place, a person can talk down or highlight the impossible aspect of the change he wants to make. A person can make himself believe that no matter what he will never be able to achieve the desired goal. For example he may say " I'll never be able to lose weight because both parents were fat, so this means I'll always be fat too! ".
This way of thinking is a false comfort, a method to avoid accepting the challenge, a way to avoid the fear that he will try to change and will instead fail.
Another barrier is the society we live in. We live amongst trends in fashion, food and status. Society and its changing ideals can pose a barrier to successful change only if people allow it to sway them with its criticisms, its traditions and its paradoxes.
Fear can also be a major barrier to any positive change. The fear of the outcome, " What will it be like to go through change? Will I cope? Will I be able to stick to it? Will it bother me or loved ones? " For many people the fear of changing is great enough to hold them back from almost anything including successful weight loss. Fear has deep roots in childhood when discipline, accidents or unhappiness began to set limits on imagination. Often adults carry fears from childhood without realising the limits they place on life potential.
BEATING THE BARRIERS
It is possible to overcome these barriers to change. First we need to explore current lifestyle habits and decide what areas need changing.
Now try to think about other attempts made in the past. For example, to exercise more, eat healthier meals or join the gym, write down the reasons you believe why these attempts failed - did the healthy eating plan fall flat because someone invited you for a curry and you couldn't get back on track? Did the exercise plan not work because you had other commitments in your life at that time?
Now analyse the reasons for that failure on a deeper level. What made you accept the invitation for a curry? Try to uncover clues as to what caused a barrier. Look at times in your life where you were successful at something and determine why?
This technique is like a self-search approach to establish what may drive your enthusiasm for various goals. Self- searching can yield valuable answers that you can use to set out on the path towards lifestyle change.
POSITIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGE
There are three main elements to help attain desired changes. These three keys are a must in making any change successful, enjoyable and positive:
INFORMATION ACQUISITION
Information about nutrition, physiology and biology will help you to understand how your body works and learn about where you may have gone wrong in the past. As your level of awareness broadens so will your excitement to try new, healthful ways to lose weight. The process of a positive change will then become fun rather than laborious. Gain knowledge from reading books, magazines and articles about nutrition and weight loss. Visiting this site on a regular basis is another way to gain new information and ideas.
Information acquisition is a great start but it is not always enough. For example, everyone knows about the importance of exercise yet there are still many people who do not exercise on a regular basis, despite proof of its benefits!
SUPPORT SYSTEM
This is another important element for any positive change. It may even be the most crucial of all. The pressure, pain and anxiety in successfully losing a large bulk of weight are even higher when trying to do it alone. Friends and family who want the same as yourself will help produce an immense source of motivation, as for when one doesn't confide his/her intentions to diet or exercise then they must use their own willpower to resist any temptations. Try to recruit friends, family or co-workers to be a positive part of your goals even if they don't have the same intention as you, they can still play a role for support if you feel low or tempted.
Slimming clubs are a great way to gain support as they are full of people with the same intentions. New friends and training partners will help by motivating each other and increase chances of success.
SETTING REALISTIC GOALS
Setting goals is one way to ensure success in any weight loss effort. The mistake many dieters make is to set goals that are unrealistic. When a goal cannot be reached it usually affects an individuals motivation resulting in negative thoughts patterns. Short-term realistic goals should be set to ensure you achieve them quickly to gain motivational momentum. Setting goals can act as a map for you to follow and analyse how far you have come. Start by identifying where you are now and where you want to be. Then fill in the gaps by setting small easily reachable goals so you have a guide to help you reach your main ultimate goal!
A look at some causes of Negative Body Image