The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 3 - Lose the hang ups!

We have missed the boat and your boat is sinking fast. You have weighted your ship down with stats, calories, grams and pounds. Now you are more confused than ever on how to lose weight, feel better and get stronger. We America catch up with the crisis, or will the diabetes and obesity epidemic sink us? The answer is not in the numbers the answer is in the psychology of weight loss. Yes, America's health will get worse before it gets better. In order for you to get better these two steps must take place:


Step #1: Get over your hang-ups!

Why is it so hard for me to start exercising? I know it's good for me. It seems like I have some form of resistance to getting in better shape.

"Exercise Resistance" or ER means a conscious or unconscious block against participating in a regular active program. Studies show that some people have barriers built up from past experiences that give them a negative mindset toward exercise and food. In many cases, this prevents a person from starting or following through on an exercise program.

RESENTMENT

I thought the golden years were supposed to be filled with relaxing things to do, not more activities I usually put off before?

Building up resentment toward exercise goes much deeper than just not liking the effort it takes to do it. Resentment brings out a rebellious attitude in us. The sooner you accept the fact that exercise is going to have to be a part of the rest of your life, the more likely you will start -- the more likely you will continue exercising. Resentment is usually fueled by his cousins: Denial, Pride and Laziness. The best thing to do is never let them play together. Resentment is a form of pride.

FAILURE

The only failure is not starting. Success is not measured in numbers. It is measured in your growth through the process. Just because your track record may show some ups and downs has no bearing on your future efforts. Plus, your self-worth is not based on how many times you started an exercise program. Fear of failure is an excuse to never try.

PERFECTION

If you think for one second that you are going to be perfect in sticking to a plan, forget it. It's not possible for anyone. The truth is you will never be perfect. Perfectionism is an illusion.

COMPARISONS

You will always compare your results to something or someone. Once you hit a goal there will always be another one. You may even be the type that no matter what you do, it will never be good enough. If you are this type, stop for a minute and listen to your body. Comparing yourself to others and your past is a losing battle.

EXPECTATIONS

If your expectations are too high, you set yourself up for failure and then begin comparing yourself to others. In some cases, ER sets in before you even start. This is hurtful. Setting expectations that are too high is self-defeating before you even start. Step #2: Change your false beliefs about food, exercise and life.

The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 2 - How are you motivate

New Years Resolutions do not work because you are really not motivated when you think you are. On the surface you may be, but deep down you are not. That is why by April, that membership to the gym, those new clothes and that new found motivation has all but disappeared.


When it comes to weight loss and sticking to an exercising program you are motivated from two emotions; fear and pleasure. You are also pushed from two directions; internally and outwardly. Out of the four choices there are two good ones and two bad ones. In other words, two that will help you stick to losing weight and two that will eventually hinder you. Do you know which ones they are?

What motivates you to exercise? Fear of your health or Pleasure of feeling better

What drives you to exercise? Internally vital signs or Toned arms and legs

I best way of staying motivated is a combination of both. However, you have to figure out the combination. I'll give you a hint - pure motives are not seen. I believe that the journey goes from denying the reality of your health to a deep desire to take better care of yourself.

What does it mean to have deep desire for something? Remember those feelings you had back when you wanted your first bicycle. That Barbie doll you made a fit over in the toy store in front of everyone. Or what about that girl or boy you would have done just about anything for? There was such a hunger, a burning in your gut. You couldn't even think straight, eat or sleep because it occupied your every thought. You just had to have it!

If you want to go from denial to desire, call on the "all or nothing attitude." If you are going to start now, you have to start for good. The reality is you will have good attitude and bad attitude days for the rest of your life. But understand, if you are going to be healthier through exercise and eating, you are going to have to participate in some form of exercise till the day you die. This is not a temporary fix to a long-term problem; it is a lifestyle.

The bottom line of staying motivated to exercise and eat right is finding a meaningful reason too, not just because you have to.

The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 1 - The INSIDE OUT Minds

WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?


The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness differs from that of conventional wisdom. Most programs work on diet and exercise alone. They give suggestions on what foods to eat through recipes, calorie-counting books, and exercise tips. While this way may work in the short run, eventually your motivation and desire to get in better shape disappears. In order to change your attitude and these unwanted behaviors, there are three things to learn about yourself:

How and what motivates you?

What are the reasons behind your unwanted behaviors?

What kind of support system is good for you?

The "INSIDE-OUT" approach is an on-going process. In theory, it is a simple common sense idea. In practice, it will take some hope, a little faith in yourself, and patience.

The goal is for you to develop a lifestyle that reflects this way of thinking.

You cannot sustain motivation to be active without pure motives.

You cannot change unwanted behaviors without knowing the reasons behind them.

You cannot stay focused without outside support.

You cannot eat smarter without a proper attitude toward food.

You cannot continue to be active without deep desires.

In a Nut Shell:

The "INSIDE-OUT" concept takes a look at your exercise and eating behaviors through a cognitive awareness approach. It deals with your motives, desires, and beliefs toward exercise and food. If you want to change attitudes and habits toward exercise and eating for the long haul, you are going to have to dig deep into WHY you feel the way you do about them. This will not be easy and it will take hard work.

I commend you for reading this; however, the reason you are is because you are not happy with who you are right now and how you feel. Twenty years ago I did not either. However, after changing from the INSIDE OUT, I today feel better than anytime in my life. And thousands of others have changed to by applying this approach. You are not alone. Let me help!

Weight Loss - The Importance of Low Body Fat

When you hear a doctor or a personal trainer say, "Your body fat is too high, or you are borderline obese, what do you think? Does it matter to you? Does it motivate you to lose weight? Or are the numbers on the scale more important to you?

Most people will always have a love - hate relationship with the scale in their bathroom. However, with the dramatic increase in diabetes and obesity cases in America the importance of keeping your overall body fat down becomes the most important issue to ones health.

What does it mean to be obese? This means that thirty percent or more of your overall body weight is fat. When this occurs, your body has already begun to shut down in many areas. Things that are affected by high levels of body fat are; blood pressure, cholesterol, bone density, energy levels, immune systems and on and on. This is the direct reason for the increase in heart disease, diabetes, and strokes in America.

What is happening behind the scenes is this; muscle burns more calories than fat. If you have less muscle then you are going to burn less fat in day. In addition, aging promotes a decrease in muscle mass naturally. The goal is to slow that natural process down. How do you do that? I call this, "Having synergy in your workout and eating plan."

Having synergy in your workout plan is accomplished by incorporating all areas of fitness into your weekly activities. The four main areas are; good eating habits, heart exercising (cardiovascular), strength training (weights) and flexibility training (stretching). When all four areas are working well, you can not help but lower your body fat. 

 

When you lower your body fat levels your; blood pressure, stress and cholesterol levels will lower and your strength confidence and stamina will naturally increase.

Are the numbers on the scale important? To your brain and ego maybe, but in the greater health of things, not as much as lowering your body fat levels.

Advantages Of A Gym Exercise Equipment

Now is a good season for the health conscious to check up on the latest in gym exercise equipment. A wide variety of gym exercise equipment is available in the market each designed to tone the specific part of the body. So for that lasting impression as you stride down the beach and flaunt it, here are some of the important aspects in choosing the right gym exercise equipment for you.

Know your body: whether you want to sport the firm and fit type or something as insanely huge as the Hulk, gamma radiation included, everyone has their own preference. For a first-timer, choosing the right gym exercise equipment can be attained in two ways: purchasing it from a sports store or to sign up in one of hundreds of gym establishments in the city.

One advantage in using the gym exercise equipment in a gym is the selection of commercial models that will help you get in shape, if not faster then better. Commercial gym exercise equipment are a little more complicated to use, often with digital readouts and other computerized systems attached, but the outcome after using the machine does show fantastic results after a few weeks. In addition to commercial gym exercise equipment, trainers are available to help you draw up a program to achieve that attention-grabbing body you always wanted. Be it in a posh place like Gold's Gym, or a neighborhood one that offers fifty bucks per session, these establishments hold the upper hand when it comes to quality gym exercise equipment.

Home gym exercise equipment is something a little more easy to use and compact enough that you can stow it away in your closet after two hours of working out. Convenience is all about the home gym exercise equipment, especially if they are the shy type who could not stand to flaunt themselves in public, even in a gym. They can be as attractive to look at like their commercial counterparts, but with a price tag that is a bit easy on the pocket. They require little effort when adjusting the setting to get out its maximum exercise performance.

A first-timer can acquire and use the home exercise equipment without too much flub. But as he or she gains experience, and not to mention a greater body, they go for more body specific machines that will bring out the best in (and out of) them. All they have to do is to draw a layout of his or her personalized body building program from books and go from there.

Know your self, as well as your body. Whether you purchased it in a store, or holding a gleaming member's card, gym exercise equipment is the next best thing since the home-made dumbbells and barbells out of cement on a pair of large milk cans and a metal water pipe.