STEP ONE

                                                    WEIGHT LOSS THINKING

     How do you think about losing weight?  This question is very important to the person who is beginning their weight loss journey.   The way you think about losing weight is critical to the success of your weight loss goal.  So, is the thought of losing weight dormant—just lying around waiting to be resurrected?  Maybe the thought of losing weight is a passive thought that loses focus when any past unsuccessful attempt enters your mind. Maybe the thought of losing weight is a casual one that only enters your mind when you hear of a friends’ success at losing weight.  Well, regardless of how you think about weight loss, it doesn’t matter if it is not motivating you to achieve your weight loss goal.

     The information that is presented below will aid you in constructing the way you think about losing weight.  When reading the points below, stop after each one, and reflect on how thinking this way in regard to weight loss can benefit you.

---YOU MUST DEVELOP A DIETER’S THINKING---A dieter defined in this text is a person who is conscious of what (foods and liquids) they consume, why they consume them and the possible effects of their consumption.   Some may feel this is over thinking the basic functions of eating  and drinking but the truth is that many are overweight  as the result of mindless eating.  The senses (taste, smell, touch, sight) in a lot of mindless eaters are conditioned to such a degree that they dictate eating habits.  The senses should add to the enjoyment of our eating and drinking, not control them.  A dieter’s thinking  empowers the dieter to make choices that benefit  weight loss.

---YOU MUST WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT---Want is the desire to have or need something.  The want you must have to lose weight must have aggressive energy fueling it.  This type of aggression is defined as being forceful and determined to succeed.   A dieter must have this type of want or their thinking to lose weight becomes casual, passive, and eventually dormant.  This kind of want is developed by a dieter focusing on the potential benefits gained by weight loss.

---YOU MUST BE SERIOUS ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT---Simply, losing weight is a serious endeavor.  The journey to lose weight may challenge your sense of self.  This journey may question your strengths and expose your weaknesses.  If you are not serious about losing weight, any obstacle, no matter how small can deter you from this rewarding and worthwhile journey.

---YOU MUST VIEW YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY AND GOALS REALISTICALLY---Most prospective dieters fantasize about weight loss in a fairy tale kind of way.  The dreamer thinks that maybe in a few weeks or months that a slimmer, new person will emerge and they will live happily ever after.  Unfortunately, for many, this scenario never happens, but it is a nice fantasy.  The reality is that you can write the fairy tale script any way you want, but the pounds usually remain.  There will be personal rewards for losing weight but that is in the future.  Remain focused on what needs to be accomplished to achieve your weight loss goals.  Stay mentally in the present and take one day at a time.  There is work to be done but this work can be rewarding.

---GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO LOSE WEIGHT---Many prospective dieters sabotage their own weight success by letting negative thoughts deter them from even trying.  Allowing any negativity from any source will impede any attempt at weight loss.  It may be a challenge to keep all negativity at bay, but it will be well worth the effort.  Keep reminding yourself that it is you that wants to lose weight and only you can connect positive thoughts to this want.

---IT IS OKAY TO SAY NO TO YOURSELF---Honestly, when some prospective dieters think of weight loss, they think of deprivation.  The thought of depriving oneself of their favorite foods for any reason seems to cause panic in many.  A mindless eater rarely says no to any food choice if he wants it.  A mindless eater has gotten in the habit of thinking   if a food looks good, smells good, tastes good, and feels good, then they deserve it.  You must exercise your dieters thinking and incorporate it into your weight loss thinking so you can say no to wrong diet choices.  Remember, when you are saying no to foods that don’t benefit your weight loss, you are saying no to being overweight.

---YOU MUST BELIEVE YOU CAN LOSE WEIGHT---Your belief cannot be based on any negative past experiences with weight loss.  You see, in regard to weight loss, the past does not always determine the future.  You must believe that if there are no medical (physical, emotional) limitations ,  you can, if you give yourself a chance, lose weight.  If you are a person that is overweight, there is a truth that you can believe in---it is possible for you to lose weight.

     This first step—WEIGHT LOSS THINKING—was designed to empower the dieter to achieve their weight loss goals. It is recommended that the above information be read several times over the course of several days to allow for reflection on how Weight Loss Thinking and benefit their weight loss journey.  Remember, how you think about your weight loss determines the success of your weight loss journey.