Mentally Prepare for Weight Loss

Weight loss is a physical thing, but I think you need to mentally prepare for weight loss. Being prepared mentally when it comes to weight loss is one of the most essential steps in the process, I have come to realize. Trying to lose weight when you are in the wrong state of mind is kind of like trying to run in quicksand… you are pushing your way through, but not really getting anywhere.

How to Mentally Prepare for Weight Loss

If you mentally prepare yourself to lose weight, you will be much more likely to stick to it when you get to your target weight.

Most dieters understand the benefits of being mentally prepared but are not sure how to actually do it. A lot of losing weight is a mindset.

How To Mentally Prepare for Weight Loss

Bumps in the Road to Weight Loss Quote

Go ahead and accept the bumps in the road

Weight loss is very rarely a process without any setbacks. This is easy advice to give to someone else, but hard to accept for ourselves.

We naturally want the process to be as smooth and comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, weight loss is not really like that. There are ups and downs that you just can’t avoid. Accepting that going in will help you to be more accepting of yourself.

Self Talk Quote

Work just as hard on your self-talk as you do on your waistline

The words we say to ourselves are often tragic, and we do untold damage to ourselves with little comments that seem harmless. Pay attention to what you say to yourself and be aware of that little inner voice.

When you are harsh on yourself and say things that are not nice, correct yourself. Eventually, you become more aware of what you are doing and can learn to speak appropriately to yourself. Would you talk to your best friend like that?

Set Achievabe Goals Quote

Make goals you can actually reach

Setting yourself up for failure is not going to build character, boost your confidence or make you want to try harder. You know your long-term goals, and you know your short-term goals, but you need to set them up in increments.

Short and quick goals are powerful for a weight loss plan. Set reasonable goals and don’t make them all about the scale. Set your goals in activity levels, exercise marks, and food goals. These are goals that are in your control. Your weight is going to fluctuate wildly at times and not necessarily be reflective of the work you have done. A goal journal or goal planner is an excellent way to track your goals.

What motivates you Quote

Spend some time with what is motivating you

If you are driven because you want to live a longer life or because of health reasons, spend some time with that. Think about what it would be like to miss out on your kid’s events and milestones. Allow yourself to truly understand what it is that is motivating you. The last thing you want is to lose focus along the way.

Reminder of where you came from and going quote

Set up visual reminders of how far you have come

If you have some pictures of you before you lost some weight, keep them in places that you go every day. No need to put them out for everyone else…just in places that you will see them. It helps to be reminded of where we came from and where we want to go. Don’t grovel in it by any means. Just post some reminders in places that you know you will bump into them on occasion.

A visual board or visual planner can help, too.

I know from personal experience how tough it is to lose weight, especially as we get older… trust me, I’m struggling with it right now. But I think the above tips will help me, and hopefully, YOU, to win our struggles over weight loss. Just remember to mentally prepare for weight loss, and you’ll be over half way there.

Here are a few weight loss programs that I’ve either used personally or a family member or close friend has used and has worked if you’d like to try one for yourself: Pro-Form 30-Day Total Body Makeover, alli Weight Loss Aid, and Herbalife Ultimate Program.

25 Comments

  1. Thank you. now for me to concentrate on WHAT my motivation(s) is/are for the weight loss. 20 years ago, I had access to orange trees and not only did I EAT them (after peeling), I also made juice, using a manual juicer. I didn’t eat too much back then as my children were 5, 4, and 3 years of age and kept me running around. In April of that year (1994) I had to go through surgery for C.T.S.(Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)and I was on medical leave from work(TACO BELL) for 2 months or so, then went back back to work and in less than 2 months after going back, my paternal grandmother passed away, and I was in deep grief. I had requested that they take me off of the drive thru area and put in the food prep area. My request was denied. I was so peeved, and truly grieving and I quit that day. I had managed to get my weight down from 165 to 145 that summer, and it stayed at 145 for the rest of the year and I was able to travel to WA state for our family reunion (Dec.’94) with help from my Mom. It was my Christmas present from my parents, the trip. I spent the rest of my Christmas with my family back here in Fresno,CA.

  2. These are great tips . Weight loss is definitely a roller coaster

  3. I like to track measurements on a calendar and watch the progress. It keeps me going!

  4. This is so inspirational! I feel this way when I beat myself up, that as long as I keep going and am making even small strides, to just keep going and not give up.

  5. Yes, it really is such a process. I’m working on it now.

  6. Great post! The working on positive self talk is SO important! 🙂

  7. SO very true. I really like your tips and the photos you used to emphasize your points. I’m at 20lbs lost out of about 80 I want to lose and I’ve been gaining and losing the same 20 lbs for about 6 years now. Ugh. But beating myself up doesn’t help, it just makes me want to binge eat, so your points are timely :).

  8. These are some great tips. I used to be able to do this. Right now I am struggling. Thank you for sharing

  9. Hey lady!

    At first, I never thought about being mentally prepared. I was always focused on the weight loss.

    Now that I understand it’s not only changing the way we eat but it’s also the state of mind. Thank you for the advice and I love the images you shared…very motivating!

    Hope you’re well!

    cori

  10. I like your tips. Thank you!

  11. I didn’t realize how much was mental when losing weight. If you’re not major changes of every aspect of yourself, the long-term changes won’t hold.

  12. Great tips! I’m still trying to tighten up after my kids, some 6 years later, and the mental part of it has always been the hardest part.

  13. Such great quotes/tips. I’m trying to really change my eating ways and eat even cleaner than the clean we eat. I think these sayings ring true for that as well.

  14. These are such wonderful quotes. Thanks for the inspiration!

  15. So interesting, i have to leave weight

  16. what a great post. I agree that you have to make realistic goals when you decide to lose weight. 5 or 10 lb increments are so much easier to achieve and see results for than say I want to lose 150 lbs right out of the chute.

  17. This does motivate me to continue on. I remind myself that most of the healthy foods that I eat are foods that I actually do love and most times prefer to the junk that I am tempted to eat out of habit.

  18. Great post!So inspirational!Sometimes we need a little push,the right few words and everything is going well.I think your post has the right amount of right words:))

  19. You really need to start mentally before you can really dedicate yourself to losing weight. I lost 77 pounds in a year, I have been overweight my whole life. One day I told myself it is enough and I went for it by changing my whole lifestyle, starting by changing my eating pattern (which is the most important aspect of losing weight), and started working out.

    I went from 200 pounds to 125 and never felt better in my life. I still work out mainly strength training (my fat percentage is low enough so I dont do a lot of cardio any more). I am trying to build muscle and tone my body because I have loose skin on my triceps and on my belly.

    You need to be patient and dont give up when you dont see immediate result!

  20. When it went through my big weight loss stage I remember how emotional the entire journey was for me. I cried when I was happy and successful just as much, if not more, than I cried when I did not achieve the weekly result I desired.

  21. Hi,
    Nice post. Weight loss is not so hard . You need target a goals and try to get it. Its also important to take good and healthy foods. Always avoid junk and fatty foods.
    Thanks.

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