Your attitudes, including your thoughts,
feelings and opinions about changing your habits, are crucial to
making a good beginning and for staying on track for the
long-term. For example, if you heave a heavy sigh when you think
about starting a weight loss program, you probably have a
negative, worn-down attitude. Research shows that an optimistic
attitude is an important element in accomplishing change. It’s
difficult to sustain a positive, helpful attitude about change.
Why? Because you want it to be easy and often, it isn’t.
To develop attitudes that will help you meet
your goals
Watch for wishful thinking. Ads that
promise quick results or a magic program or pill for fast weight
loss are generally playing on unrealistic hopes for quick change.
Long-lasting habit change most often happens on a step by step
bases. It’s the "slow and steady" approach. Be alert
and identify your wishful thinking. Replace wishful thinking with
positive action and encouragement that "slow and steady wins
the race."
Catch negative self-defeating thoughts.
Sometimes you may be tempted to tell yourself that "it doesn’t
matter anyway." These thoughts can fuel an eating frenzy or a
vacation from your exercise plans. Instead of allowing these
thoughts to dampen your resolve, figure out the content of the
thoughts. Write them down and look them over. Is what you are
saying true? Probably not. Try changing your negative,
self-defeating thoughts to something that is more helpful for you.
Reward yourself for realistic optimism.
Take a few minutes and think about the positive, optimistic things
you naturally say to yourself. Create a few new ones as well! Now,
take special notice when you find yourself thinking optimistic and
realistic thoughts about your progress and reward yourself.
Encouraging yourself to keep on track and rewarding yourself when
you do will help you develop an attitude that will sustain your
healthy habits.
Caution Areas!
The following can interfere with your progress
in developing an attitude that will help you change.
Feeling guilty when you have veered off
track toward your goals.
Equating being thin with being a worthwhile
person.
Trying to change because someone else won’t
love you unless you change
Valuing your immediate needs over your
long-term health
