Let me ask, how many people keep a weight loss journal? No you say? In return you might ask, Why should I keep a weight loss journal? To be honest, it is almost imperative to keep track of your success, and the best way is through journaling.
Do you know how easy it is to “forget’ all the pain and suffering you have gone through to get to where you are now? What prompted you to start on your weight loss quest to begin with? Typically pain and suffering. That’s right. When you get to a point when you are no longer emotionally disturbed and distressed by your excess weight, then it’s critical that you keep your weight loss journal up-to-date. If not, it’s too easy to slide and revert back to your original bad habits… most of the time without you even realizing it!
Let’s face it, when you start to feel good about yourself, it is much easier to slide. You no longer feel the emotional pain – potentially physical pain too – and before you know it, you feel it’s ok to cheat “just a little”, or “just this time”… but of course, not as badly as you used to. At least not in the beginning. After all, you certainly don’t want to wind up back in the same situation… just like you used to look and feel. You make all the determined promises to yourself that this time it is different. But do you really believe it?
Imagine this. You are in your kitchen looking back over your daily weight loss journal that you diligently kept up-to-date from the very beginning, Your thoughts of how you felt, as well as what you ate are staring back at you. Your picture is also staring you right in the face. You cringe as you look at the difference from what you were when you first started out, to what you have accomplished and have become now – and that alone gives you the necessary push you need to stay right on track with your goals. Woohoo!
Basically you need to monitor everything that goes into your mouth. Period! Not only food-wise, but liquids too. Of course, drinking plenty of water is critical for your successful weight loss. Please refer to my post called “How Much Water Should I Drink?” to get specifics on the amount of water that is recommended for you to consume on a daily basis. It’s up to you as to the amount of information you wish to track in your food journal, but the more detailed you are, the easier it will be in the long run. Reviewing your journal months down the road will be quite eye-opening!
So please, if you are serious about losing weight, do yourself a favor and consider keeping a food journal. Writing down everything you eat and drink will give you a pretty clear picture about what you need to change, as well as give you a record of how well you are doing. In spite of the fact that it takes persistence to keep this journal, this is without a doubt, one of the best ways to create your weight loss success. Let’s face it, you are less likely to eat an unhealthy food item if you are diligent in writing it down. No sense in kidding yourself. You have started this journey to lose weight, not see what you can get away with.
One other suggestion I would like to emphasize is, Begin With the End in Mind. Take a look at where you want to be. That’s right… you need to know your outcome first! You would be amazed how well that works. Your brain is a very powerful tool, so use it to the best of your ability. Get creative and use that imagination of yours!
Write down your goal first, then decide how you will be attaining that goal. Then go ahead and muster some courage to step on that scale for the first time. Write down your starting weight. Chart your progress as you go along right in your food journal, whether it be in a bound book or even on your smart phone. Simply weighing yourself (preferably no more than once a week) and writing down your weight changes can be a big motivator to help keep you going. By all means take out a tape measure and measure around your waist, your hips, your upper arms and your thighs. You will be amazed at how quickly you will start losing inches once you incorporate healthy eating and a little bit of exercise into your daily life.
And of course using hypnosis as an addition to your heroic efforts will result in greater and better results. Searching out a competent professional hypnotherapist will do wonders in keeping you focused on your weight loss goal, and accomplishing it too! By incorporating hypnosis, you will also have the added benefit of stress reduction. And who doesn’t need stress reduction now-a-days. You will be sleeping better, eating healthier and feeling better than you have in a very long time.
Get that motivation moving! Start your weight loss journal and take some time for yourself in the process. And please, remember to do some sort of exercise to round out the whole program. The end results will be well worth it!
For immediate hypnotic assistance, be sure to download my Weight Loss Sessions available by clicking on this link – Weight Loss Series.
This post has been written and read by Cynthia L. Fertal, M.Ch.T., C.I. ~~ A practicing and successful, professional hypnotherapist and Creative Visualization and Relaxation (CVR) specialist for more than 21 years.
Disclaimer: This information is for you to actually consider alternative possibilities for your success. Please seek advice from your medical professional before starting any weight loss or exercise program. Taking charge of your body is your right and privilege. Do so with knowledgeable information from trusted sources.
