Affirmations/Visualization - Do you do this? Has it worked?
72MonteCarla
Posts: 169 Member
I lost 80 lbs last year between January & August. Then I injured my hip and quit working out. Then I abandonded my good eating habits. By January of this year, I had put 32 lbs back on. I'm back on track now, and have taken 13 lbs back off.
I know what I need to do, and I know how to do it. Losing 80 lbs in 8 months is testimony to that.
However, even though I am 61 lbs lighter than I was a year ago, I feel like a failure for having fallen off course. When I look in the mirror, I see myself as the same as I was 61 lbs ago: Huge; Fat; Disgusting.
I know that happiness is a choice in life, and I try to choose it, but sometimes I don't know how. I often feel like I don't deserve to be happy. I know that this psychological issue is directly related to and interconnected with my physical health including being overweight.
I just watched the documentary "Hungry for Change". In it, they address affirmations: essentially telling yourself that you rock. The example they give is Louise Hay's method of looking directly at yourself in the mirror twice a day for 30 days and tell yourself, "I accept myself unconditionally right now".
They also discuss visualization: Literally picturing yourself as you would like to be. Neither of these concepts are new to me, but I've never really employed them.
I am wondering if anyone else has done this, and what their experience has been. I figure I'll try it & see. What's the worst that could possible happen, right? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks!
I know what I need to do, and I know how to do it. Losing 80 lbs in 8 months is testimony to that.
However, even though I am 61 lbs lighter than I was a year ago, I feel like a failure for having fallen off course. When I look in the mirror, I see myself as the same as I was 61 lbs ago: Huge; Fat; Disgusting.
I know that happiness is a choice in life, and I try to choose it, but sometimes I don't know how. I often feel like I don't deserve to be happy. I know that this psychological issue is directly related to and interconnected with my physical health including being overweight.
I just watched the documentary "Hungry for Change". In it, they address affirmations: essentially telling yourself that you rock. The example they give is Louise Hay's method of looking directly at yourself in the mirror twice a day for 30 days and tell yourself, "I accept myself unconditionally right now".
They also discuss visualization: Literally picturing yourself as you would like to be. Neither of these concepts are new to me, but I've never really employed them.
I am wondering if anyone else has done this, and what their experience has been. I figure I'll try it & see. What's the worst that could possible happen, right? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks!
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Replies
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I haven't been doing affirmations, but I think visualization is a big part of my success this time. It has given me a goal to work towards besides just an arbitrary number on the scale. Weight loss success, in my opinion, is mostly psychological, so your idea totally makes sense.
Good luck!0 -
I am going to do both of these!!! Day 1 - gotta do this!!0
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Hey Ladies! I created a Visualization thread where everyone posted their images! You guys should add your pictures! :flowerforyou:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/860665-power-of-visualization-show-me-your-goal-pics0 -
I do actually have a visualization of myself as how I would like to be. I did this unintentionally but yeah.
After I reach my goal, I wanted to get professional pictures taken. I thought of a nice place, and an awesome outfit...then I started to think about how I would want my hair, which jewellery to wear, and how my make up will be done - everything from head to toe. Now sometimes before I pass out and Im laying in bed - I imagine myself on my photo shoot. When i have temptations - I think of the "future me" on photo shoot day.
It actually really has helped keep me going. It gives me a visual to work towards and provides motivation.0 -
Here's a little inspiration of an affirmation in the mirror....this little girl is awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg 0 -
I do visualization all the time. After I had my son I had 62 pounds to lose. I walked 4 miles a day. I had just had just finished reading The Secret and decided to put it to the test. While I was walking I visualized the numbers on my digital scale going down one by one until I saw my goal weight. I did this over and over in my head for the full 4 miles. 9 months to the day I had him the 62 were gone. I've had other similar success with visualization in other areas of my life. I'm a believer!0
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You are well on your way, thanks for sharing!I haven't been doing affirmations, but I think visualization is a big part of my success this time. It has given me a goal to work towards besides just an arbitrary number on the scale. Weight loss success, in my opinion, is mostly psychological, so your idea totally makes sense.
Good luck!0 -
I hope it works for you. It's Day 1 for me, too. Keep us posted!I am going to do both of these!!! Day 1 - gotta do this!!0
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That's a great thread! Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately I don't think I've ever had a single picture of myself that I could stand to look at, even at a healthy weight as a kid. So I'm hoping the affirmations help with that.
Hey Ladies! I created a Visualization thread where everyone posted their images! You guys should add your pictures! :flowerforyou:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/860665-power-of-visualization-show-me-your-goal-pics0 -
Thanks for sharing! I love the detail of your visualization - the whole process, head to toe. I think it makes it more real.I do actually have a visualization of myself as how I would like to be. I did this unintentionally but yeah.
After I reach my goal, I wanted to get professional pictures taken. I thought of a nice place, and an awesome outfit...then I started to think about how I would want my hair, which jewellery to wear, and how my make up will be done - everything from head to toe. Now sometimes before I pass out and Im laying in bed - I imagine myself on my photo shoot. When i have temptations - I think of the "future me" on photo shoot day.
It actually really has helped keep me going. It gives me a visual to work towards and provides motivation.0 -
Very inspiring! I hope 40 isn't too late to start!Here's a little inspiration of an affirmation in the mirror....this little girl is awesome!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg0
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This is awesome! Thanks for sharing!I do visualization all the time. After I had my son I had 62 pounds to lose. I walked 4 miles a day. I had just had just finished reading The Secret and decided to put it to the test. While I was walking I visualized the numbers on my digital scale going down one by one until I saw my goal weight. I did this over and over in my head for the full 4 miles. 9 months to the day I had him the 62 were gone. I've had other similar success with visualization in other areas of my life. I'm a believer!0
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Said this before here, I'll say it again. I tell myself this, more or less, when I get down on myself.
I don't care if I deserve to be happy, plenty of people do and aren't and vice versa. I'm going to be happy anyway. And if that means being in my own corner even when I don't like everything about myself, then I'm there!0 -
Said this before here, I'll say it again. I tell myself this, more or less, when I get down on myself.
I don't care if I deserve to be happy, plenty of people do and aren't and vice versa. I'm going to be happy anyway. And if that means being in my own corner even when I don't like everything about myself, then I'm there!
Love it! Thanks for sharing!0 -
Like anything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it. I have used it for other areas of life. Have only been on this weight loss journey for a month, but I do use this one:
I am strong
I am fit
I am determined
I will succeed0 -
Like anything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it. I have used it for other areas of life. Have only been on this weight loss journey for a month, but I do use this one:
I am strong
I am fit
I am determined
I will succeed
Sounds like you've got positive thinking under control! Nicely done!0 -
I am currently half-way through Louise Hay's "You Can Heal you Life".
My mum spent years nagging me to read it, and now at 33, I have finally decided to follow her advice.
I can honestly say it's one of the best things I have ever read - I only wish I had done it sooner.
When I first started reading it, I couldn't look at myself in the mirror and say "I love and approve of myself" withouth coming close to tears.
I can now do it over and over again, with a big smile on my face!0 -
I am currently half-way through Louise Hay's "You Can Heal you Life".
My mum spent years nagging me to read it, and now at 33, I have finally decided to follow her advice.
I can honestly say it's one of the best things I have ever read - I only wish I had done it sooner.
When I first started reading it, I couldn't look at myself in the mirror and say "I love and approve of myself" withouth coming close to tears.
I can now do it over and over again, with a big smile on my face!
So glad to hear that it's working for you! I hope you find the balance of the book to provide continued inspiration. Best wishes to you on your journey!0 -
It certainly can work! There's another book called "The Gabriel Method" that's absolutely wonderful. Jon Gabriel, the author also includes a couple of meditations/self-visualizations and affirmations to listen to, one for the morning and one to listen to as you're falling asleep at night. Good luck to you! I used "The Gabriel Method" a couple of summers ago and it helped me lose about 30 lbs in 3 months.0
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It certainly can work! There's another book called "The Gabriel Method" that's absolutely wonderful. Jon Gabriel, the author also includes a couple of meditations/self-visualizations and affirmations to listen to, one for the morning and one to listen to as you're falling asleep at night. Good luck to you! I used "The Gabriel Method" a couple of summers ago and it helped me lose about 30 lbs in 3 months.
Thanks for the tip! I'll check it out. So glad that it worked for you! Good luck in your continued journey to better health!0 -
yep i do it. it's great for many things in life
actions are born from intention and it's easier to direct your intention by spending time visualizing what you want, how you'd act if you had it, etc.
here's an article on how athletes use it.
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2010/07/28/how-mental-imagery-helps-athletes-succeed/0 -
If you can see it, you can be it.0
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Meh. It's good to have a goal in mind, but you will never achieve your ideal body. Your body will look different because of genetics.
Plus, it's all very well sitting around thinking about want you want, but it's much better to just get out there and do it.0 -
I'll tell you now visualization isn't easy... because most likely you wont end up looking like that supermodel or that actress you're envisioning. Then you'll be disappointed when you don't get there. And even more realistically, you may not think that the scale fits what you think you should look like.
Think it's important to have REASONABLE affirmations. Like, yeah, I didnt eat that cookie and im proud because of that! Anything you can control, and affirm, will help. Not something that you may never see.
Best of luck 0 -
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