Struggling with weight loss and can’t seem to figure out how to lose weight?
Well, you are not alone.
Today marks a special day for everyone who has been struggling to lose weight because we are going to explore one of the most challenging obstacles to permanent weight loss in women: the mind-body connection.
The mind-body connection may seem like “magic and voodoo,” but it actually makes a lot of sense, and even medical science now emphasizes the need to harmonize the body and mind to improve well-being.
There has always been an overemphasis on the physical when it comes to losing weight. Of course, in the end, the numbers do matter and when you try to put on a pair of jeans that are two sizes smaller, all you can think of is, “what happened to my waist?”
But what you may not know is that research suggests that our minds can sometimes be our greatest enemy when trying to lose weight.
Our brains can prevent our bodies from experiencing the weight loss we desire.
How? In today’s post, I’ll discuss the various mind and body issues we’ve all experienced at one point or another that can play a role in hampering weight loss. And I’ll share some simple solutions that will help you end specific mind and body misconceptions.
Problem n. # 1: toxic stress
Stress can be extremely toxic if you don’t know how to handle it.
Many people do not realize that stress affects not only the mind, but also the body. For a more scientific term, call it “physiological stress.”
When you’re stressed, your brain sends an emergency signal to the rest of your body. Your “fight or flight” instincts kick in, and suddenly your body is just worried about surviving.
The result? You will feel exhausted and fatigued most of the time. This can make your weight loss journey troublesome, because you won’t have the extra energy you need to achieve your weight loss goals.
You cannot lose weight if your stress levels are off limits. Your mind will not allow you to use additional energy and resources on your new goals because you are in a state of physiological emergency. You need to address stress before trying to get started on your weight loss goals.
How can you stop stress before it stops you? Here are some steps to help you manage stress:
Step 1: Ask yourself, what is causing your stress? Be really honest with yourself!
Step 2: If the stressor is a problem you have at work or at home, can you find a solution? Sit back and try to solve the problem so that it doesn’t bother you anymore.
Step 3: If the stressor is something you cannot resolve, or it is simply an independent reality that sometimes causes stress (for example, babysitting), then learn to momentarily detach from the stressor.
If you feel like exploding from stress all the time, go for a five-minute walk or find a quiet room and do something you enjoy. Learning to temporarily detach from an unavoidable stressor can work wonders.
Problem n. 2: no strain relief
Tension, like stress, can easily build up if you don’t have an outlet to release it.
When there is too much stress, it can be nearly impossible to make the lifestyle changes necessary for successful weight loss.
If you don’t have a way to “blow off steam,” your mind-body connection will work against anything that takes your time and energy. This is probably one of the main reasons why people feel fatigued at work. The stress on their minds and bodies is too much to handle.
Having a “stress release” can greatly improve your life and help you achieve new goals.
I suggest choosing activities that allow you to release tension without harming your body. Completely avoid activities like drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco.
Among the best stress busters are:
– Do sport
– meditation
– Yoga
– Writing / journal
– Travel
– Cooking
– Arts
Problem # 3: not believing in yourself
Do our beliefs about our abilities matter when trying to lose weight?
Yes! You can’t achieve something if you don’t believe you can do it in the first place. Remember the saying “what your mind conceives, the body can achieve”? That old saying was quite accurate!
Here’s the truth: Experts who study body language and the subconscious mind agree that if you think you can do something, you’re already halfway there.
If we change the situation, not believing in oneself will logically produce the opposite results. You don’t want that if you are eager to lose weight.
So if you really want to prepare well and strengthen your mind-body connection for the purpose of losing weight, you must have complete trust in yourself and believe that you can achieve weight loss.
But remember: it is not enough to say that you believe in something.
You also have to reaffirm that belief on a daily basis and actively use it to motivate yourself to achieve your goals. That way, your mind will be properly conditioned by correct beliefs and a positive mindset.
The mind is a very powerful ally in weight loss, use it to the fullest.
