The five tested components of permanently controlling your weight are : lifestyle, exercise, attitudes, relationships and nutrition, according to the Learn Program, the most successful program for weight management.

Thoughts and feelings can spell success or failure in permanently controlling your weight, says Kelly Brownell, Yale University obesity research expert and creator of the Learn Program. Brownell says the four inter-related attitude traps to watch out for are :

· Perfectionist thinking

Brownell says many people went on a weight-loss program unrealistically expecting to never encounter difficulties. He says, some people expect to lose weight every week, the reality is that some weeks their weight will remain stable or even go up a bit. This leads to discouragement and self-blame when their expectations are not realized. It is much better, he suggests, to expect to lose weight some weeks and still feel good about the hard work even on weeks when the scale does not budge.

· Light-bulb thinking

People with this “all or nothing attitude” on their weight loss program are compared to a light bulb which is either switched on or switched off. There is no in-between. He cites an example of one client, who he said, for six straight days sticks to his or her diet and has a piece of cake on the seventh day. This attitude makes this person believe, “I really blew it now. I am off my program.” Brownell’s counter for those people with this mind-set is to talk to yourself and point out how illogical it is to feel terrible about one slip. Mistakes are inevitable and should be seen as a chance to learn rather than to feel like complete failure.

· Imperative thinking

Brownell says people with imperative thinking have vocabularies peppered with words like “never, always, and must.” Example, he says, are these phrases, “I will never eat candy bars” , “Chocolate is my downfall so I will avoid it always.” Instead of saying those imperative statements, Brownell recommends saying to yourself, “I will do my best to eat fewer candy bars but, if I have one, it is a sign to increase my control, not to let down.”

· Impossible dream thinking

Brownell says some people are not aware that they have “impossible dreams” or unrealistic expectations on their weight loss goals. He cited as example an overweight client who had never had a serious romantic relationship. She thought, when she lost weight, she would meet the man of her dreams. She become depressed when she lost all her excess weight and still there was no romance on the horizon. Brownell believes, one has to realize that losing weight may not change your life dramatically, although it does no harm to hope for the best and aspire to improve your life. He explains that impossible dream thinking can actually make weight loss disappointing if your fantasy is not fulfilled.

http://www.shinyheallth.com
http://www.theentrepreneurpage.com
http://freebooksandmags.blogburner.com

Last 5 posts by Terryse

• What Does It Take To Become A Consultant? - June 26th, 2008
• Reversal Eating : The Easiest Way To Become Slim Without Dieting - June 25th, 2008
• Biofeedback As A Healing Technique - June 20th, 2008
• Biofeedback As A Healing Technique - June 20th, 2008
• Biofeedback As A Healing Technique - June 20th, 2008