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A weight loss journey is so much more than just losing fat, dieting and exercising, it’s a total transformation. While most people are conscious of transforming their body and lifestyle habits, perhaps one of the most important transformations can commonly be forgotten, transforming your mindset.
But what does this mean?
Unfortunately gaining a liking to your body after losing weight or toning up doesn’t change your self esteem if you haven’t discovered how to love your personality too. More often than not weight loss results alone are “never enough” and even though you might become fitter beyond your greatest expectations, if you have an insecurity within yourself, you will still feel this insecurity. Unfortunately this can also lead to never being fully satisfied with your results and constantly striving for more. While there is nothing wrong with wanting the best, this can enter an unhealthy and obsessive territory of exercise and diet addiction and body dysmorphia.
How can I transform my mind too?
Amazingly, the results of transforming your mindset can be evident a lot quicker than the results you get from diet and exercise. You don’t need to be seeing physical results to get started either, you just need to be open minded to change!
Focus on the things that count
The simplest but also hardest place to begin is by picking 3 things that you like about yourself. For example, you might particularly like your smile, or sense of humour, that you are kind or a great friend to have. You want to make this part of your daily routine, whether you journal it, have an accountability buddy who you tell, or talk to yourself about it in the mirror or driving. The first time may be challenging but, each day will get easier to find things that you like about yourself.
Multiple studies have been conducted on a positive mindset and how it can improve health, wellbeing and lifestyle actions. One study found that participants who practised generating mental images of positive outcomes, positive verbal descriptions and positive images reported less worry and anxiety and experienced more happiness and joy. Other research has found that happiness was associated with better health as self-reported by 5000 participants. This research supports the ‘build hypothesis’, which states that people can build personal social, physical and intellectual capital over time from their positive emotions.
Increase those feel good hormones
Optimising your body’s ability to chemically feel amazing is a great way to keep your mind happy, motivated and body energised. Taking amino acids are a great way to increase neurotransmitters, which are the body’s feel good hormones. Designer Physique has a great range of amino acids and supplements which support mood and wellbeing in different ways. Our Lean Boost is a great supplement to help regulate moods and emotions, while our Energy Boost helps to balance neurotransmitters, improve energy and reduce depressive symptoms.
Remember how far you’ve come
As the saying goes, “don’t forget to stop and smell the roses”, while striving on moving forward, it’s so important to enjoy where you’re currently at and be proud of how far you’ve already come. Think about yourself a year ago, there’s a good chance that the current YOU is exactly where you dreamed of being a year ago, “past you” would be so proud of yourself!
Give yourself some grace
It’s so important to remember that results take consistency and time, so be patient with yourself! Sometimes life gets in the way of consistency with eating and exercise, whether that’s a busier period at work, family obligations or sickness it’s important to cut yourself some slack when its needed. There are definitely times when you can push through it all and stay consistent, however we all go through phases of survival and it’s important to put your wellbeing first and not beat yourself up for simply looking after your mental health and surviving.
Don’t forget to live your life!
An exercise and eating regime shouldn’t get in the way of life’s important moments and stop you celebrating with the ones you love! Yes getting results is important and feels great, but at the end of the day being there with your loved ones for the core moments is so much more important! Remember, there’s always time for more exercise and better food choices, but key moments with the ones you love only come around once.
Love your body, love your life, love your mind
The trifecta of health and wellness is being able to combine a healthy mindset, with a healthy body and healthy lifestyle habits centred around a happy and purposeful life! Remember the size of your body doesn’t determine your worth as a person or dictate the happiness you can experience. Through every size and phase of your health journey it’s important to learn to love your mind and eventually you’ll learn to love your body too! Stay tuned for our next blog that covers the nutritional side of weight loss, but in the meantime.. What are 3 things that you like about yourself?
