How to Solidify your Direction

The hardest aspect of losing weight or learning to exercise regularly, is keeping sight of your purpose. When we say "I've lost motivation", really what has happened is that we have temporarily lost that firmness of spirit of why we are trying to eat and exercise better.

As I watch our Olympians, I wonder how many times during their career that they did NOT want to get up to swim or run or cycle or dive at 5 in the morning? How many times did they want to give up because their body was in so much pain or so fatigued? What kept them going? (It certainly wasn't the money; I've never met a swimmer who was rich because he or she won a gold or silver or bronze medal!). I know that they wanted to achieve a personal goal. They had to be able to visualize stepping on that podium years before it happened. That's what got them out of bed in the morning or kept them training when their muscles were screaming.

Similarly, YOU must practice subconscious programming - mentally picturing outcomes for your good behaviours of eating and exercising. It is difficult, only because you need to do it constantly. You can't let go of your vision for very long, otherwise old habits of snacking and increased portions return quickly.

What if you visualize (100 times) pushing away a dessert or store bought treat? Do you think that you'd be more likely to do it under real circumstances? Yes, you would.

What if you visualized (100 times) getting up earlier in the morning to go for a 15 minute walk and visualized how good you would feel about yourself afterwards? Do you think it would more likely result in consistent exercise? Yes it would.

What if you visualized (100 times) what good condition you would be in 1 year from now (or 10 years)? Do you think that would have any effect on the lifestyle habits you choose today? Yes it would.

What if you visualized (100 times) a clean kitchen, an uncluttered den, and your papers filed away? Do you think this would help unclutter your mind and make you more likely to get more organized and feel better about yourself? Yes it would.

With outcome visualizations, you rehearse the achievement of your goal in rich sensory detail. Outcome visualization keeps you excited and motivated, especially during the inevitable glitches, delays or temporary disappointments. The more your eye is on the goal, the more focused and determined you will be.

So when you are feeling de-motivated, tired or unable to resist the constant bombardment of food we have in our society, spend time visualizing what you want to look like, how fit you want to become. As the mind believes, so it will achieve. Don't get discouraged, dream big!

You can do it; just don't ever give up trying.