It's a beautiful summer's day, the sun is bright and it is hot outside, yet she wears a thick bulky sweatshirt and baggy track pants. "I wish I could be like everybody else and wear a t-shirt and shorts. Oh well, I suppose it's not meant to be." Does this describe your feelings, too?
It doesn't have to. Being overweight is something that can be dealt with. It is not the end of the world. You probably know that exercise and eating right are a way to lose weight. But the question here is, How do you keep yourself motivated to eat less and exercise in the long-term?
From personal experience, it can be tough. However, I managed to lose weight and I have kept it off ever since. Here's how I did it:
I first made the decision that I want my excess weight to go. And as I know how hard it can be for me to shed it off, I was going to find a way to keep it off for good so I don't keep doing this every summer.
I knew I had to combine eating less with exercise, and I wasn't too excited to do both, especially the exercise bit. But, I accepted that this was the way to do it, and I looked for a way to eat less and exercise more hopefully happily and with determination.
The next step was to change my way of thinking, from 'want' to lose weight to 'must' lose weight, and then I immediately got off my chair and took action. I went into my bedroom, took my top off, looked at my belly and repeatedly and loudly shouted: "I enjoy losing weight. I lose weight easily. I eat right and exercise smart."
I alternated from looking at my belly and then my eyes as I shout these three affirmations. And I mean shout. You see, it's no good just saying them under your breath. For affirmations to have power you have to say or shout them with deep emotions. This way I am programming my mind that I not only want to lose weight, but I must lose weight.
Anytime that I feel like grabbing for a bite to eat I quickly get up, take my top off and shout these affirmations over and over again until the feeling goes. That had the power to change my mind set and get back on track, which is I must lose weight.
If you are at work and you cannot shout the affirmations the second best way is to say them in your head, if you can add emotions with, even better.
In a short while, as much as you might not like exercising, the affirmations will take hold in your unconscious mind and you will gradually build up the keenness to exercise.
After a couple of weeks of saying my affirmations I found myself leaning towards wanting to exercise. In the third week I actually started my exercise routine. Fair enough I only exercised for a few minutes on the first day, but I kept at it slowly increasing the time I spent on my rowing machine.
There's no point rushing in and trying to exercise for a long time right from the beginning, as this is self-defeating and more than likely you will quit very quickly from over exercising and feeling terribly sore. Take it easy. Start slow and build on it.
A technique I found extremely useful was I blasted through my ear phones motivating songs, and I sang with them loudly and enthusiastically. Songs such as; I just want to celebrate, It's a beautiful life, Celebrate, Life, and many more.
When I finish, I shout the affirmations again and again twenty or so times looking into the mirror. Then I jump into the shower and reward myself by having a delicious ice-cold fruit cocktail.
The next important aspect to my losing weight strategy is that I listen to a lose weight subliminal as often as I can. I listen to it while I am at the computer, watching TV, driving. Whenever. I believe this has helped me a lot.
So if that excess weight is bothering you, if it is standing in the way of you enjoying the hot weather, your summer holiday, if your wardrobe doesn't fit you any more, try out the way I did it. It might work for you. Give it a shot. Who knows, it might just be the way to finally lose that weight and keep it off. Forever.
Hani Al-Qasem is a published author, a Certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Practitioner, and inspiration specialist. https://ezinearticles.com/expert/Hani_Al-Qasem/132457
