Weight Loss Begins in the Mind. The dream figure – that’s a common goal for both men and women. However, women typically address it more often – and if they are not satisfied with their body, they may start to solve it by losing weight. Yet, weight loss does not go according to plan for every woman. The problem usually isn’t in the diet, lack of exercise, as these are the most common recommendations in most texts. What is often overlooked is our mind, specifically our mental state and its significance in weight loss.
Let’s look together at what could be the reason you’re not losing weight, as well as how to restore the so-called normal state.
As we’ve already said, even though you’re trying to eat healthily, you’re getting enough fluids, and you’re going to bed precisely on time, you’re not always successful in losing weight. So, what could be the root of the problem? It’s the aforementioned mental state, especially if you’re under stress.
Weight Loss and Psychology: The Most Important Factor in Losing Weight.
Psychological Well-being is Fundamental. A number of scientific studies have confirmed that if we’re not in good mental shape, weight loss won’t come easily – in fact, we may not be able to lose weight at all. Unfortunately, this is linked to the functioning of the human body and should be taken into consideration when planning weight loss. Thus, we appeal to you – before starting on your weight loss journey, try to remove all obstacles and problems that are burdening you.
Similarly, there’s an abundance of information about weight loss. Reading or studying these resources “in bulk” can lead to a state where you lose motivation. Yet, did you know that stress has a tremendous impact not only on fat reduction but on overall health as well?
If you want to lose weight, I recommend the following:
Find Your Weight Loss Motivation
Motivation means something different to everyone – thus, it’s essential to find your own inner motivation. Ideally, find one that is long-term – its goal should be a long-term stimulus that keeps us going on our journey. We shouldn’t just lose weight for a swimsuit season or slim down for Christmas, only to stop caring afterwards.
Set Realistic Goals
If we set unrealistic goals from the get-go, we don’t stand a chance to accomplish them. Consequently, we are bound to fail. Therefore, forget about running a marathon within a month if you’re just starting to run, or losing 20 kilos in a month while you’re just beginning to fix your diet. Failing to meet such goals negatively impacts our psyche and diminishes our desire to continue.
Reward Yourself
But beware – definitely not with sweets! Instead, treat yourself to a long massage, buy a great book, or go on a trip. Simply put, a reward should be a motivator that keeps you on your journey but doesn’t undermine your efforts.
Don’t Be Influenced by Others’ Failures
It’s true that beginnings are hard. Nevertheless, don’t listen to these words, don’t let them get under your skin. Our bodies respond by getting stressed – you must eliminate negative news and information, especially in the beginning. After all, you don’t want your body to subconsciously resist weight loss out of fear that it will feel uncomfortable during healthy eating and exercise.
Willpower Above All
Strong willpower should go hand in hand with results. However, it can’t be gained overnight. It too requires work. Because radical change carries significant risks, there may be ‘something’ that occasionally stops us when trying to change our diet or exercise. And it’s precisely strong willpower that helps us overcome this and continue on our journey to our goal – to lose weight.
Stress and Weight Loss Stress
Stress and Weight Loss Stress is the body’s response to impending danger or related to our feelings – fear or anxiety. However, the definition of stress is much more complicated – and many experts, psychologists, and doctors still focus on studying it. For our purposes, though, this description will suffice.
Triggers of stress, and therefore certain discomfort during weight loss, can be pain, lack of sleep, a high workload, or interpersonal relationships.
It can be short-term, which often even benefits us because it improves physical and mental condition, such as memory or thinking. However, short-term stress is not the reason why you struggle to lose weight or even gain weight.
The opposite is long-term or chronic stress, which can and often is a problem. It usually catches up with us during periods of high overload, and the body then defends itself by activating defensive mechanisms. Literally and figuratively, our balance is disrupted. With long-term exposure, it can lead to depression, anxiety, and worst of all – slowing down the metabolism. Consequently, fats accumulate, and obesity is just another piece of the puzzle.
Chronic stress reduces our immune system and, among other things, negatively affects our digestion because our digestive tract is sensitive to changes in our psyche. Once we’re stressed – our body needs more energy, which it then draws from sugars and fats – and it’s true that when the body craves energy, we usually don’t reach for a healthy alternative.
Yoga: Your best friend in reducing stress, calming the mind and losing weight
Yoga, an ancient practice that originated in India, offers a holistic approach to well-being, beautifully balancing the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of our lives. It has been widely acknowledged for its power to reduce stress, calm the mind, and boost metabolism – three elements that are essential in achieving healthy weight loss.
When you practice yoga, your body engages in a series of postures and controlled breathing exercises that are designed to promote relaxation and enhance strength. This mindful practice helps to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is directly related to weight gain. At the same time, it improves mindfulness, allowing you to be more aware of your body’s signals, such as hunger and fullness cues, thereby aiding in preventing overeating.
Furthermore, various yoga postures are known to stimulate and strengthen the digestive and endocrine systems. These poses enhance the metabolic processes, thus aiding in weight management. Regular practice of yoga, in combination with a balanced diet, can serve as a potent tool for weight loss and maintenance, fostering a harmonious connection between the body and mind.
What is the Yoga Burn Challenge?
The 12-week Yoga Burn Challenge is an intensive course that guides you through various aspects of yoga – from basic poses to advanced techniques. This course is designed to strengthen your body, calm your mind, and rejuvenate your soul. It’s crafted to help you achieve optimal health and wellbeing through targeted yoga practice.
The Impact of Hormones on Weight Loss
When we’re under long-term stress – our body starts to secrete the hormone cortisol. In the short term, this stimulates the breakdown of carbohydrates and the conversion of fats into energy. The more cortisol we secrete, the more we’ll be plagued by insurmountable cravings not only during the day, but also in the evening or at night. And there lies the problem – with excessive consumption at inappropriate times, we will store fat in risk areas, which are the hardest to slim down. This will go hand in hand with slowing down metabolism and increasing blood pressure.
A less acknowledged body regulator is a substance that plays a part in escalating the concentration of sugar in our bloodstream. This substance, working together with the stress-related compound, intensifies the level of glucose in our blood. The collaboration of these two regulators can inadvertently lead to weight gain, deterioration in sleep quality, and an amplified likelihood of experiencing depression.
Stress can be quite well eliminated and prevented. First of all, try to have a broader perspective on things and be able to distinguish significant, important tasks from those less substantial. As they say, being productive is desirable these days, however – everything in moderation. Plan your work and personal activities in accordance with the fact that your body also needs to relax occasionally.
In conclusion, general recommendation – try to think positively, relax, meditate or exercise at home or in nature. A walk in nature can also be great. Green is wonderful.
Speaking of the psyche, what are the most common mental obstacles we can face when losing weight? What thoughts hold us back? Let’s briefly introduce them. And definitely avoid these thoughts if you don’t want your psyche to influence the success of your weight loss.
“No matter how hard I try, I can’t do it”
This is the most common sentence we use to put ourselves down from the very beginning. A magic spell that accompanies us throughout our lives. Practically from birth, but it limits us much more in adulthood, when we often rely on it. Therefore, try to forget about this sentence. And not only when you are trying to lose weight.
“No pain, no gain”
If you put the highest demands on yourself and your performance at the beginning of your effort, you might be overtaxing your physical and mental strength. And this can have a negative impact on your fitness. Therefore, try to change your approach.
“After 30, I won’t lose weight anyway”
It is true that there are many myths about weight loss, which also mention the issue of weight loss and age. However, it is not appropriate to share this belief. Many people maintain a slim figure even after their 30th birthday. Simply, keep your head up!
“My genes predispose me to obesity”
And finally, perhaps the most common excuse. Or rather, the belief that if I am predisposed to obesity because it’s in my genes, it can hold us back. Or it can completely thwart our efforts to lose weight.
Well, and in conclusion, a little gem: “I have heavy bones”. Do you also rely on this when weighing? Or do you really want to start losing weight and lose weight? Bet on proven products specifically designed for weight loss.”
