The Right Mindset Vs the Wrong Mindset in Weight Loss
JThomas61
Posts: 892
I found an interesting article that I would like to share with everyone regarding weight loss, those who commit lose weight those who don't fail.
So many factors can make or break a weight loss program. When programs succeed, credit is usually given to factors like diet, willpower, supplements, and proper exercise. When programs fail, that’s also where the blame usually falls. Those factors are important, but what’s perhaps more important is something that doesn’t get discussed as often; the psychology of successful weight loss. And there’s much more to that than simply willpower.
Have you ever tried to lose weight unsuccessfully?
What went wrong? Was it a matter of diet, exercise, supplements, willpower or something else?
Maybe it has to do with the fact that we live in a society bombarded with drug commercials and instant-gratification schemes of every type, but in any case it comes as no surprise that when it comes to successfully losing weight, people often begin the process with unrealistic expectations:
They expect a diet pill to perform miracles.
They settle on an arbitrary number of pounds to lose, almost always subconsciously invoking the Rule of Fives, an inexplicable but persistent tendency to set weight loss goals in 5 lb. increments; “I need to lose (5-10-15-20) lbs!“.
They give themselves an arbitrary period of time in which to lose that arbitrary amount of weight i.e., “I want to lose 15 pounds by …..the end of January!”
They don’t take the time to proactively research diet, exercise and supplements, instead relying on whatever sound-bites, anecdotes and uninformed advice they stumble across at the water cooler, in the waiting room or on a TV talk show.
They make excuses for counterproductive behavior instead of resolving to correct it. This undermines the very state-of-mind they should be cultivating. The results they expect don’t materialize in the time frame they expected. These cycles repeat until the whole program is simply a joyless, endless and fruitless endeavor.
Then you talk to people who’ve successfully lost weight and kept it off.
Talk to enough people on both sides of the fence and you can’t help but start to notice big differences. Both groups mention their diet, supplements and exercise habits – that’s not where the differences lay. Instead, the most profound differences are revealed in the very way in which people talk about their weight loss efforts. They are mainly mental and psychological differences. It’s not so much that this group exercised more or dieted more strictly, it’s deeper than that. The very mindset of the successful dieter is markedly different from that of the try-and-try again dieter. Let’s examine this mindset and see how and why it produces better and more-lasting results that halfhearted fad or crash diet approaches.
The Right Mindset frames the weight-loss program as set of positive and permanent lifestyle changes that eventually lead to weight loss, better health, mood, love life and other positive changes. As these “new” lifestyle changes become familiar habits, they no longer feel like changes or sacrifices. Because they’ve been permanently implemented, the weight comes off and stays off.
The Wrong Mindset doesn’t see the process as one of positive lifestyle changes, but rather focuses on the results and on the time factor; I wanted to lose X lbs by X date. What can I blame for that not happening?
The Right Mindset commits to these changes and makes them permanent, understanding that by doing so, excess weight and body fat can only decrease. That may happen slower than we’d like but it can’t fail to happen. But whether its taking 6 weeks or 6 months, the Right Mindset doesn’t care. It’s committed to making these changes permanent, committed to making them the new norm.
The Wrong Mindset doesn’t commit. It finds rationales for not exercising, for not making the extra effort to eat right, for not doing any research. The Wrong Mindset plays at losing weight, but falls short of committing to the process.
The Right Mindset doesn’t pay much attention to numbers. Their weight-loss success rarely comes as a result of “chasing numbers around” such as pounds lost, pounds gained, calories, fat grams, how many weeks, etc. Instead, the Right Mindset focuses on establishing and making permanent as many healthy new eating, supplement and exercise habits as possible, then forgets numbers. Just keep doing all the right things – the weight and fat come off eventually – does it really matter if it happens at this rate or at that rate?
The Wrong Mindset gets overly concerned with numbers or focuses on the wrong numbers. These are the folks who weight themselves, perhaps compulsively, on a bathroom scale and – quite naively – let that number validate or repudiate their success. They’ll get hung up on calories while ignoring nutritional content of food. They’ll focus on how long they exercised but not how hard.
There really isn’t any secret to losing weight and keeping it off, and indeed, hundreds of conversations with customers about weight-loss have left us unable to draw any other conclusion than this one; with very few exceptions, most people know exactly what they need to do to lose weight. They know they have to clean up their diet and exercise, and what they need to do achieve that. What makes some successful and others unsuccessful isn’t an information gap at all. It’s an attitude gap. Anyone can lose as much weight as they want to but remember that it’s a mental game more than anything else. Be sure to start at the beginning by cultivating the Right Mindset.
So many factors can make or break a weight loss program. When programs succeed, credit is usually given to factors like diet, willpower, supplements, and proper exercise. When programs fail, that’s also where the blame usually falls. Those factors are important, but what’s perhaps more important is something that doesn’t get discussed as often; the psychology of successful weight loss. And there’s much more to that than simply willpower.
Have you ever tried to lose weight unsuccessfully?
What went wrong? Was it a matter of diet, exercise, supplements, willpower or something else?
Maybe it has to do with the fact that we live in a society bombarded with drug commercials and instant-gratification schemes of every type, but in any case it comes as no surprise that when it comes to successfully losing weight, people often begin the process with unrealistic expectations:
They expect a diet pill to perform miracles.
They settle on an arbitrary number of pounds to lose, almost always subconsciously invoking the Rule of Fives, an inexplicable but persistent tendency to set weight loss goals in 5 lb. increments; “I need to lose (5-10-15-20) lbs!“.
They give themselves an arbitrary period of time in which to lose that arbitrary amount of weight i.e., “I want to lose 15 pounds by …..the end of January!”
They don’t take the time to proactively research diet, exercise and supplements, instead relying on whatever sound-bites, anecdotes and uninformed advice they stumble across at the water cooler, in the waiting room or on a TV talk show.
They make excuses for counterproductive behavior instead of resolving to correct it. This undermines the very state-of-mind they should be cultivating. The results they expect don’t materialize in the time frame they expected. These cycles repeat until the whole program is simply a joyless, endless and fruitless endeavor.
Then you talk to people who’ve successfully lost weight and kept it off.
Talk to enough people on both sides of the fence and you can’t help but start to notice big differences. Both groups mention their diet, supplements and exercise habits – that’s not where the differences lay. Instead, the most profound differences are revealed in the very way in which people talk about their weight loss efforts. They are mainly mental and psychological differences. It’s not so much that this group exercised more or dieted more strictly, it’s deeper than that. The very mindset of the successful dieter is markedly different from that of the try-and-try again dieter. Let’s examine this mindset and see how and why it produces better and more-lasting results that halfhearted fad or crash diet approaches.
The Right Mindset frames the weight-loss program as set of positive and permanent lifestyle changes that eventually lead to weight loss, better health, mood, love life and other positive changes. As these “new” lifestyle changes become familiar habits, they no longer feel like changes or sacrifices. Because they’ve been permanently implemented, the weight comes off and stays off.
The Wrong Mindset doesn’t see the process as one of positive lifestyle changes, but rather focuses on the results and on the time factor; I wanted to lose X lbs by X date. What can I blame for that not happening?
The Right Mindset commits to these changes and makes them permanent, understanding that by doing so, excess weight and body fat can only decrease. That may happen slower than we’d like but it can’t fail to happen. But whether its taking 6 weeks or 6 months, the Right Mindset doesn’t care. It’s committed to making these changes permanent, committed to making them the new norm.
The Wrong Mindset doesn’t commit. It finds rationales for not exercising, for not making the extra effort to eat right, for not doing any research. The Wrong Mindset plays at losing weight, but falls short of committing to the process.
The Right Mindset doesn’t pay much attention to numbers. Their weight-loss success rarely comes as a result of “chasing numbers around” such as pounds lost, pounds gained, calories, fat grams, how many weeks, etc. Instead, the Right Mindset focuses on establishing and making permanent as many healthy new eating, supplement and exercise habits as possible, then forgets numbers. Just keep doing all the right things – the weight and fat come off eventually – does it really matter if it happens at this rate or at that rate?
The Wrong Mindset gets overly concerned with numbers or focuses on the wrong numbers. These are the folks who weight themselves, perhaps compulsively, on a bathroom scale and – quite naively – let that number validate or repudiate their success. They’ll get hung up on calories while ignoring nutritional content of food. They’ll focus on how long they exercised but not how hard.
There really isn’t any secret to losing weight and keeping it off, and indeed, hundreds of conversations with customers about weight-loss have left us unable to draw any other conclusion than this one; with very few exceptions, most people know exactly what they need to do to lose weight. They know they have to clean up their diet and exercise, and what they need to do achieve that. What makes some successful and others unsuccessful isn’t an information gap at all. It’s an attitude gap. Anyone can lose as much weight as they want to but remember that it’s a mental game more than anything else. Be sure to start at the beginning by cultivating the Right Mindset.
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Replies
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So true. Good article. Thanks.0
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Thanks for sharing.0
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:bigsmile:0
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Definitely a good read. Thanks!0
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excellent!!!!0
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brilliant article thank you :-)
I have had a very poor mindset in the past and my weight has been up and down like a yoyo but i really try and view things differently now.... healthy eating and increased exercise is a permanent lifestyle change. the weight is coming off steady- i'll get there when i get there. i can't be perfect but i can try my best!0 -
Great read!!0
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Great article. It's made me stop and think about my attitude towards a healthier lifestyle.0
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*Like*0
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couldn't agree more, thanks for posting this!0
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Great article! And as you can see, I want to lose 13 pounds, not 15! LOL0
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So, where can I get "the right mindset" ? :laugh:
I'm not that excited by the article to be honest.0 -
Thanks, I needed that Right Mindset reminder!0
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Very interesting article.
I am very 'goal orientated' and as I am about to hit target with my weight I'm concerned that I will loose interest in the healthy lifestyle process. As such I've move onto some fitness goals (Running a Marathon next year for one) and I'll set my diet to meet those targets.
As such I don't completely agree with the article: Goal orientated CAN work: But you need to know yourself and what works for you and follow that through to succeed.0 -
So, where can I get "the right mindset" ? :laugh:
I'm not that excited by the article to be honest.
You actually have to develop that minset. I realize that not everyone will agree with that article, and I am not here to push it one way or another, simply to help inform those that have the same mindset as I do.0 -
absolutely 1000% true. The right mindset doesn't whine about what foods they can't have, doesn't say "I deserve a cookie" doesn't have a setback on the scale, say it's not their fault and quit. The right mindset refuses to quit, ever. You have to want it and you have to be committed to doing what it takes to get it. You have to change your lifestyle permanently, not until the pounds come off and you have to be aware of your body, your environment and always be ready and able to change things and adjust as life changes and adjusts.0
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Thanks for sharing!
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So, where can I get "the right mindset" ? :laugh:
I'm not that excited by the article to be honest.
"The right mindset" really comes down to the quality of your motivation and the clarity of your goals. If your motivation is something along the lines of "I want to be a size x" or "I'm going on vacation, getting married, etc. and want to look nice in those pictures or that bikini or that wedding gown", that's pretty weak motivation for making any sort of lasting change.
If your motivation is more along the lines of wanting to lower your blood pressure, decrease your risk of cancer and diabetes, generally feel stronger, have more than enough energy to keep up with your grandchildren, set a good example for your children so they won't jeopardize their health because they learned poor habits from you, etc., then you're more likely to make permanent changes.0 -
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this and it is totally true!!!!!!0
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Right on Atlantique!0
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"The right mindset" really comes down to the quality of your motivation and the clarity of your goals. If your motivation is something along the lines of "I want to be a size x" or "I'm going on vacation, getting married, etc. and want to look nice in those pictures or that bikini or that wedding gown", that's pretty weak motivation for making any sort of lasting change.
If your motivation is more along the lines of wanting to lower your blood pressure, decrease your risk of cancer and diabetes, generally feel stronger, have more than enough energy to keep up with your grandchildren, set a good example for your children so they won't jeopardize their health because they learned poor habits from you, etc., then you're more likely to make permanent changes.
*Thinking about this*
I'm sure that short term goals like the first paragraph are important on achieving long term ones in the second.0 -
"The right mindset" really comes down to the quality of your motivation and the clarity of your goals. If your motivation is something along the lines of "I want to be a size x" or "I'm going on vacation, getting married, etc. and want to look nice in those pictures or that bikini or that wedding gown", that's pretty weak motivation for making any sort of lasting change.
If your motivation is more along the lines of wanting to lower your blood pressure, decrease your risk of cancer and diabetes, generally feel stronger, have more than enough energy to keep up with your grandchildren, set a good example for your children so they won't jeopardize their health because they learned poor habits from you, etc., then you're more likely to make permanent changes.
*Thinking about this*
I'm sure that short term goals like the first paragraph are important on achieving long term ones in the second.
I think short-term goals are important and can help you keep your motivation up. And changing over from weight-loss to fitness goals like you've done, I think is another part of the right mindset.
For permanent weight-loss, I agree with the article, that your mindset has to be more about health and understanding that it is a lifestyle change. Don't put the weight loss on a timetable, just do the right things day-to-day and the weight will come off.0 -
This is very true, in the past Ive tried sites like this and failed because the results weren't fast enough and logging was time consuming, tedious, and often frustrating. I would have a particularly frustrating day of logging and say screw it I'm done and that would be the end of it.
This time around I have noticed a much different mindset, it's almost like something triggered in my head. I'm more patient and remind myself every day this is going to take a year+ before I reach my goal and after my goal for the rest of my life I'll need to use this as a method to keep my habits in check. You have to have commitment to get through the hard days and the disappointments.0 -
Definitely MFP is great for changing mindsets - people here who have had good success stories have had them over long periods of time and they are happy to share with others.... And having friends on here keeps you in the right mindset.0
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I have lost 15 pounds in the last 7 months.....I frankly do not care that much. I have 5 more pounds and I will probably need 3-4 months....again, I do not care. I am feeling better and better everyday.0
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So, where can I get "the right mindset" ? :laugh:
I'm not that excited by the article to be honest.
"The right mindset" really comes down to the quality of your motivation and the clarity of your goals. If your motivation is something along the lines of "I want to be a size x" or "I'm going on vacation, getting married, etc. and want to look nice in those pictures or that bikini or that wedding gown", that's pretty weak motivation for making any sort of lasting change.
If your motivation is more along the lines of wanting to lower your blood pressure, decrease your risk of cancer and diabetes, generally feel stronger, have more than enough energy to keep up with your grandchildren, set a good example for your children so they won't jeopardize their health because they learned poor habits from you, etc., then you're more likely to make permanent changes.
I think you totally underestimate the desire to look hot as a motivator, lol.0 -
I have lost 15 pounds in the last 7 months.....I frankly do not care that much. I have 5 more pounds and I will probably need 3-4 months....again, I do not care. I am feeling better and better everyday.
If you do not care then why post a response?0 -
So, where can I get "the right mindset" ? :laugh:
I'm not that excited by the article to be honest.
"The right mindset" really comes down to the quality of your motivation and the clarity of your goals. If your motivation is something along the lines of "I want to be a size x" or "I'm going on vacation, getting married, etc. and want to look nice in those pictures or that bikini or that wedding gown", that's pretty weak motivation for making any sort of lasting change.
If your motivation is more along the lines of wanting to lower your blood pressure, decrease your risk of cancer and diabetes, generally feel stronger, have more than enough energy to keep up with your grandchildren, set a good example for your children so they won't jeopardize their health because they learned poor habits from you, etc., then you're more likely to make permanent changes.
I think you totally underestimate the desire to look hot as a motivator, lol.
I question the sustainability of that motivation. Once you find out that life is not all that much better simply because you look hot, that it didn't change your entire your life, make you rich, bring you the faithful and undying love of the man of your dreams and solve all your problems, it's a lot less motivating. Yes, I was young once, too. LOL0 -
Cant possibly reply to the above without moving into sarcastic verging on ridiculous mode.
Suffice to say that I hotness can bring you both wealth and happiness if you are sufficiently manipulative and superficial 0 -
I have lost 15 pounds in the last 7 months.....I frankly do not care that much. I have 5 more pounds and I will probably need 3-4 months....again, I do not care. I am feeling better and better everyday.
If you do not care then why post a response?
I think Yanicka was actually agreeing with the article. (Right?) Saying that the time it takes to lose the weight is less important than feeling better.0
This discussion has been closed.
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