Weight Loss Success Tip #1: Feel Good About Yourself!
June 25th, 2009
You become what you think. One of the major reasons that people cannot maintain weight loss is negative thinking that ultimately causes failure. If you really want to achieve any goal, you need to feel good about achieving it. In this week’s article, Mary Ziller, L.C.S.W., a licensed social worker and cognitive behavioral therapist who has specialized in eating disorders since the 90s and worked with LAP-BAND® patients for over 10 years, shares why feeling good about yourself is the number one weight loss success strategy.
After your bariatric surgery, inevitably you will have both good and bad days, successes and setbacks. Your mind may become preoccupied with thoughts such as “I feel depressed so eating a cookie will make me feel better” or “I am not meant to lose weight” or “I hate to do exercises”, etc. If these negative thoughts keep you from reaching your weight loss goal, you are certainly not alone. But instead of giving in to your personal triggers, you can learn to recognize them, tolerate and overcome them, and develop alternative coping mechanisms.
Mary starts working with bariatric patients by helping them actively identify the triggers of their negative thinking and replacing them with alternative, positive responses. Simply having a positive attitude can make the weight loss challenge easier. According to a 2003 study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, as self-efficacy improved in young adults, eating habits improved and weight loss increased.
“Self-efficacy is positive psychology, when you believe that you are capable of achieving your goal,” Mary says. “Ask yourself – what do you own that you feel good about? What positive qualities do you have that will help you achieve your weight loss goal? The better you feel about yourself, the less likely you are to overeat or otherwise sabotage yourself, which brings you closer to reaching your goal.”
With time and effort, you can change how you think. Try these tips to learn to feel good about yourself:
Meditate and relax. Meditation can help reduce stress, focus your mind, control your thoughts, keep things in perspective, and even unlock your creative potential. Step back, meditate, then take action.
Focus on what makes you feel good. Imagine how your greatest strengths bring you to success. Remember a great experience or a nice day that you had recently. Visualize feeling good using positive affirmations, such as “I enjoy being healthy” or “My body is getting stronger, slimmer, and healthier every day.”
Steer clear of triggers that are not in your best interest. If a certain place, time or event causes you to feel negative or eat foods not recommended for your bariatric diet, do your best to avoid them for a while. Pick a different place to go to, re-arrange your schedule, or try a new routine – it’s worth it! And remember to steer clear of negative people who bring you down.
Develop new interests. New hobbies and interests can help you rewire your brain and create a new routine for yourself. They can also help you meet new friends, boost your creativity, and – who knows! – maybe even discover a new talent!
Entry Filed under: Lap Band, Realize Band, gastric bypass
