Attitude Is Everything – Planning For Success on the Low Carb Lifestyle

Losing weight is a complex project. There are so many variables to consider when pursuing a thinner you. Age, metabolism, environment, current health status – all these things play a role in our venture to obtain better health and a sleek, athletic form. Thankfully, many of these things can be improved upon with a little effort. Of course, the biggest, and most obvious change is what you eat. This is kind of a no-brainer. Everyone knows if you want to lose weight, you go on a diet. What many of us miss is a piece of the puzzle that is very crucial to success on any plan – your mindset.

We really need to mentally prepare for all the life-changing decisions we are making in an effort to lose, and maintain weight loss. If your head isn’t in the game, it simply won’t be a long-term solution. (Sadly, I’m speaking from experience.) Embarking on a low-carb plan is more than just watching the foods you eat or getting in a little extra exercise. You must be committed to making these positive changes permanent. It has to become a lifestyle, not a “diet”. Without the determination to stay on track, you may easily find yourself right back where you started, or worse, heavier than before.

I fear that the psychology of weight loss is an area that isn’t addressed enough. I think if most people were honest, they’d admit that changing your lifestyle is daunting, overwhelming and a very emotional experience. Eating itself is an emotional experience. It takes the right frame of mind to overcome the doubts and fears that generally accompany change. Below are a few ideas to help you change your mode of thinking and further your chances of success.

Why?

Ask yourself why you want to lose weight. Is it for someone else or an upcoming event? If so, you may be working for all the wrong reasons. Lose weight for you. Because you want it. Not because someone else is pressuring you or you are worried about that big wedding in a few months. Yes, those reasons can be good motivators, but in the long run it has to be because you really want it. And always remind yourself that this is as much about being healthy as it is looking good. You want to feel good physically and you want to live a long, happy life. The positive changes will get you there if you do it for the right reasons. Those same reasons will get you through the tough spots when it’s tempting to throw in the towel.

Be realistic

Goals are great, but only if they can actually be achieved. I’d love to be 110 lbs, which sounds doable on my 5′ 3″ frame, but my genetics are a bit against me on this one. Honestly, if I did get there, I’d look like I was wasting away. I know that 135 is a more realistic goal and I will still be trim and healthy-looking. Setting unrealistic goals only causes discouragement and leads to self-loathing. Do what you know can be done. If you surpass those goals, then consider it a bonus and pat yourself on the back twice. But please don’t set yourself up for failure right from the onset.

Mini-goals

Speaking of goals, break down your weight loss into smaller, manageable goals. While big picture thinking is important, if that’s all you have, you may find yourself losing hope if your progress is slow. Setting mini-goals is a great way to see measurable progress and keep yourself encouraged at the same time. I’ve often rewarded myself for reaching mini-goals by allowing myself a new book, extra time for my favorite activity, or even a new outfit for the new, smaller me.

Relationship With Food

If you are anything like me, your relationship with food has been dysfunctional at best. I always lived to eat, instead of eating to live. Instead of looking at food as nourishment, I saw it as recreation. Stress eating, boredom and just the love of all things food can make these lifestyle changes difficult. Knowing you can no longer have specific foods, which were once used like a drug for comfort, can be extremely emotional. It feels like an old friend has been torn away from you. This is a mindset you may struggle to overcome. If you just hang in there and remember that food is for nourishment, you’ll eventually see the real benefit in avoiding such foods and will find you miss them less and less. Grain, starches and sugars are not your friends, but your enemy, and work against your body. These fiends are keeping you sick and overweight. You deserve better; always remind yourself of that.

Love Yourself, Now

I’m not saying you should not try to lose weight and be healthy. I am saying you should be happy with who you are and learn to accept yourself as you are at this moment. You are not your clothing size. You are the person inside that body, whatever the size, that loves, laughs, smiles, hurts, cries, just like anyone else on this planet. We are all worth the effort to care for ourselves, but because of the stigma that goes along with being overweight, many of us no longer believe that. Repeat to yourself daily – with every meal, with every step – that you are worth the effort, and you are valued just as you are.

Planning For Success: Get Support

Support is vital to the success of any weight loss plan. With all the confusing messages still circulating about healthy eating, from the “experts” no less, you must have support from like-minded friends who will back up your choices. If there is no one in your family or circle of local friends you can lean on, reach out to online support groups, forums and websites. You are assured to find a great group of people that can give you the information, encouragement, research, recipes and anything else you may require to keep you going.

You can make changes to your diet and exercise relentlessly, but until you make up your mind that you can, and will, do this, it’s not likely to stick. Healthy attitudes towards yourself and your lifestyle changes are the key to long-term success.

© 2011 by Amy Dungan. Article and photograph used by kind permission of the author. Send Amy your comments to Amy Dungan.

Read more by Amy Dungan.