The 4 Biggest Issues You’ll Deal With When Trying to Lose Weight

The weight loss industry is noisy, confusing and frankly frustrating. There are people over complicating the process and people over simplifying it. You know the drill…

To lose weight all you need to do is focus on:

Eating less

Exercising more

Drinking enough water

Getting enough sleep

A simple equation of 1 + 1 = 2. Right?

Wrong.

For most people using this equation, following an over-simplified routine, it rarely adds up and often the results simply don’t come. So what’s missing?

Ever heard the saying “it all ends and begins in your mind”? Well it’s also true for weight loss.

The mind is the single biggest roadblock to weight loss in the average person and it generally comes down to 4 limiting beliefs or thought patterns that prevent you from reaching your diet and lifestyle goals.

Limiting belief #1 – I don’t have enough motivation or willpower.

When you first start a weight-loss diet, being hungry comes with the territory. But despite eating less food, you’re feeling motivated and inspired so it’s easier to have the ‘willpower’ to continue on.

You’re ready to finally shed the unwanted kg’s so you skip breakfast, eat a smoothie for lunch, drink too much coffee and by dinner time the willpower trap kicks in and you’re arm deep in a bag of Doritos. Why? Because you’ve starved yourself… you’ve set your own trap!!

The thing about weight loss is that yes you need to eat less but you still have to EAT. Without food, your brain doesn’t have the willpower to do anything let alone fight off a bag of crisps.

Instead of focusing on motivation and willpower, focus on behaviour and action.

Focus on the behaviour and action of planning, cooking and eating (at least 3) healthy, balanced meals every single day. Meals that are high-protein and low in sugar and refined carbohydrates will keep you fuller for longer. This means you don’t have to rely on willpower.

Limiting belief #2 – I don’t have enough self-control.

It seems self-control is vital to weight loss. If you’re craving something sweet just have something else and restrain yourself. But it’s not that simple. Cravings can’t be controlled.

You may do a decent job for a few weeks, maybe even a few months but resisting the temptation will only make the thoughts stronger and stronger. No one needs that kind of internal battle. You can’t control it, so stop trying.

Luckily, there are some things you CAN control like portion size, how quickly you eat, the nutritional quality of your food, how balanced your meals are throughout the day, and so on. Focusing on these aspects as opposed to hoping you don’t cave in and eat the chocolate will give you a sense of food freedom you never thought you could have!

Limiting belief #3 – I don’t like exercise.

Exercise is not a one-size fits all activity.

Some people like lifting weights, other people get a kick out of team sports, and others would rather go to a group fitness class 3 times a week. You have to stop listening to everyone else and trying to lose weight based on the status quo. Doing this just makes exercise a chore and as soon as working out feels like this, you’re never going to enjoy it.

The key is to tune into what YOU actually enjoy doing and altering your fitness routine to suit.

Regardless of what you choose to do, it’s important to understand that exercise will always SUCK in the beginning. It will hurt and it won’t be easy… but it’s worth it and if you enjoy what you’re doing you’re more likely to stick to it.

Limiting belief #4 – I can’t stop eating.

If you’ve ever felt that internal battle with hunger, you know it’s one of the most difficult aspects of losing weight. You fight it, resist, and eventually you give in, over-eat and resign yourself to the fact that you just ‘can’t stop eating’. But there’s more to it than that!

There are two types of hunger; physical and emotional and understanding them can help you give your body what it needs, when it needs it.

Physical hunger is the need to eat. It is determined by what you last ate and when and is accompanied by physical symptoms such as; growling stomach, stomach pains, lightheadedness, fatigue or lack of energy, and irritability. Once we consume food, these symptoms are relieved.

Emotional hunger on the other hand does not arise from the need to eat. It stems from an unmet emotional need that we are either avoiding or trying to fix with the pleasures that come with food. For example, turning to high-fat, high-carb and sugar-laden foods when we’re feeling stressed. These foods keep you coming back for more, especially if you haven’t dealt with the emotions that led you to them in the first place.

Once you’re aware of what is actually causing your hunger, you may be less likely to overeat.

The thing with all of these limiting beliefs is that they often aren’t the reality yet can be some of the biggest factors in preventing you from losing weight. It’s not a matter of willpower, motivation and self-control, it’s a matter of understanding!