Jedi Mind Tricks for Weight Loss
As you may already know, I’m on the path to “reversing” some Baby #2 weight gain. I gave myself a specific date in June to show up for 
a photo shoot. The pictures will then be published online by my photographer. So, come hell or high water, I’ve got to move it. It’s crazy, I know!
I’m not going to lie – food is DELICIOUS! When you come from a culture such as mine, where big families are the norm and food is love and abundantly served at gatherings, it can be quite easy to love food and pack on the pounds.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have been exposed to the bodybuilder world and be inspired by and understand their approach to their bodies. Like any other sport, the mind is the key.
Here’s what I’ve been doing to prepare:
VISUALIZATION:
I’ve been visualizing in my head how I want to look again and remembering how good my body feels during a run – the pulsing music, the rhythm of my steps, breathing, becoming strong.
I also think back to my body when it was in good shape and how good I felt seeing the changes take place.
I remember how easy it was to fit into jeans and tank tops. No item was out of the question anymore.
I look at bodies I admire – nothing extreme, but something fit, toned, and strong – and I think of my body looking like that.
All of these thoughts, help me get my butt into the gym.
MIND TRICKS:
Let’s face it, food is the HARD part! I think it’s possible to not exercise so much if what I was taking in was correct.
This past weekend, I stayed with my nutrition plan because of all the visualization I was doing. This is no small feat because I live with children whose grandparents stockpile the pantry with the latest and greatest cookies and treats known to the Western World.
Here are some tricks I play on my mind-
When I see something I REALLY want to taste or eat, I tell myself…
- “Not today. Someday soon, but not today.”
- “Those are not for me, they’re for other people.”
- “Save it for your treat day, not right now.”
- “That will cost you many hours on the treadmill.”
- “Think about how you felt when you got into your jeans!”
- “What’s another alternative that we can do?”
- Recalling how someone said that I’ll “never be that (smaller) size.”
As you can see, it’s a lot of talking myself off the ledge, but as time goes on, it’ll get easier because I’ll have other payoffs – getting fit, feeling good, and wearing my beloved jeans again!
SIDE NOTE:
I’m almost like a junkie.. slowly weaning myself off the cookies that are my crack. One VERY important thing that I discovered the first time around in my weight loss (after Baby #1), is how addicted some of us are to SUGAR! That’s another show though… stay tuned!
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