ARTICLE: Choose to Lose
Choose to Lose!
Believe it or not, food is probably not the thing that’s keeping you from losing weight. Research shows that your commitment to losing weight and how you plan to go about it are the most telling factors in weight loss success. So, are you ready to commit-- or not?
(Nutricise) — More than 61% of Americans are overweight, and yet, most diets have a failure rate of almost 95%. This endless cycle of frustration and failure leaves millions of people wondering: what is it that makes it so hard to lose weight—and is change really possible?
A recent study by the USDA hints that the reason for all this diet failure is that most diets focus on certain foods or a miracle pill to “guarantee” success, when in fact, supplements and food combinations are not the key to losing weight and keeping it off. The study explains that what is really crucial is lifestyle change – you have to change the way you live, the way you eat, and the way you think about food.
In Breaking The Pattern (Red Mill Press, 2002), author Charles S. Platkin compiles years of research in behavior modification, goal planning, and achievement to prove once and for all that you really can change your life – and stick to the changes you make. “The mistake most people make when they try to lose weight is that they think losing weight is simply about willpower. People think they can decide they want to lose weight, and then just resolve to ‘make it happen’ -- when in fact, it’s nearly impossible to effect real and lasting change in your life through the sheer force of your will. In order to make fundamental, long-term changes in your life, there are very specific steps and guidelines which, when properly implemented, can practically guarantee you success,” says Platkin. Below, are a few of the “sound, tested behavioral principles” that Platkin illustrates as easy-to-follow, specific tips that can help you lose weight – and keep it off for good.
Be Committed to Making the Change—Motivation is the most powerful insurance when it comes to effecting life changes. Remember, losing weight is not just about food – it’s about changing your lifestyle so that you are burning more calories than you take in.
Have a Plan—If you don’t develop a formal plan to lose weight, quit smoking or get organized, you might as well not proceed at all.
Have a “Plan B” to Eliminate Excuses—Take a look inward to come to terms with the excuses you use to excuse yourself from making changes, and come up with a Plan B to avoid them. For example, if you decide you’re going to exercise more and begin a walking program, be sure to have another exercise in mind if it happens to be raining (especially if you live in London or Seattle).
Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals—Make your goals Specific; Motivating; Achievable; Rewarding; and Tactical.
Create a 'Life Preserver'— Use visualization as a motivator. Think of every detail (including emotional and physical) of these future moments and reflect on these “Life Preservers” to help you get through the tough times or when you feel like you're losing sight of your goals. For example, if weight loss were your goal—imagine, yourself a thinner, healthier you— running into your ex-spouse at the mall.
Track Your Progress—Monitoring your improvement will keep you focused and on your path.
Be Persistent—Research has shown that the more times you go back to your resolution—the greater your chance of success.
So, despite what you may have learned in biology class, a leopard can change its spots. You can be the person you’ve always wanted to be. The only person holding you back is YOU. Are you ready to commit to a new you? It’s your choice. Give yourself a break…a break with those damaging patterns.
You can purchae the book Breaking the Pattern from Amazon.com,
Believe it or not, food is probably not the thing that’s keeping you from losing weight. Research shows that your commitment to losing weight and how you plan to go about it are the most telling factors in weight loss success. So, are you ready to commit-- or not?
(Nutricise) — More than 61% of Americans are overweight, and yet, most diets have a failure rate of almost 95%. This endless cycle of frustration and failure leaves millions of people wondering: what is it that makes it so hard to lose weight—and is change really possible?
A recent study by the USDA hints that the reason for all this diet failure is that most diets focus on certain foods or a miracle pill to “guarantee” success, when in fact, supplements and food combinations are not the key to losing weight and keeping it off. The study explains that what is really crucial is lifestyle change – you have to change the way you live, the way you eat, and the way you think about food.
In Breaking The Pattern (Red Mill Press, 2002), author Charles S. Platkin compiles years of research in behavior modification, goal planning, and achievement to prove once and for all that you really can change your life – and stick to the changes you make. “The mistake most people make when they try to lose weight is that they think losing weight is simply about willpower. People think they can decide they want to lose weight, and then just resolve to ‘make it happen’ -- when in fact, it’s nearly impossible to effect real and lasting change in your life through the sheer force of your will. In order to make fundamental, long-term changes in your life, there are very specific steps and guidelines which, when properly implemented, can practically guarantee you success,” says Platkin. Below, are a few of the “sound, tested behavioral principles” that Platkin illustrates as easy-to-follow, specific tips that can help you lose weight – and keep it off for good.
Be Committed to Making the Change—Motivation is the most powerful insurance when it comes to effecting life changes. Remember, losing weight is not just about food – it’s about changing your lifestyle so that you are burning more calories than you take in.
Have a Plan—If you don’t develop a formal plan to lose weight, quit smoking or get organized, you might as well not proceed at all.
Have a “Plan B” to Eliminate Excuses—Take a look inward to come to terms with the excuses you use to excuse yourself from making changes, and come up with a Plan B to avoid them. For example, if you decide you’re going to exercise more and begin a walking program, be sure to have another exercise in mind if it happens to be raining (especially if you live in London or Seattle).
Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals—Make your goals Specific; Motivating; Achievable; Rewarding; and Tactical.
Create a 'Life Preserver'— Use visualization as a motivator. Think of every detail (including emotional and physical) of these future moments and reflect on these “Life Preservers” to help you get through the tough times or when you feel like you're losing sight of your goals. For example, if weight loss were your goal—imagine, yourself a thinner, healthier you— running into your ex-spouse at the mall.
Track Your Progress—Monitoring your improvement will keep you focused and on your path.
Be Persistent—Research has shown that the more times you go back to your resolution—the greater your chance of success.
So, despite what you may have learned in biology class, a leopard can change its spots. You can be the person you’ve always wanted to be. The only person holding you back is YOU. Are you ready to commit to a new you? It’s your choice. Give yourself a break…a break with those damaging patterns.
You can purchae the book Breaking the Pattern from Amazon.com,
