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The Proverbial Resolution of Weight Loss

What is it about New Year’s resolutions that make grown men fidget and women sigh? Is it about feeling pressure to change on the stroke of midnight? Or is it about feeling frustrated year after year with not being able to create the change we want? I’m thinking it’s a bit of both.

In casually surveying people for this article, I was hard-pressed to find anyone who enthusiastically supported the idea of New Year’s resolutions, let alone admit to making a few themselves. Seems our dubious track records in this area have made us quite adept at skirting the issue or changing the subject altogether.

Yet somewhere between the lines of conversation, I sensed in many people a faintly expressed but long held desire to achieve their proverbial resolution of weight loss. It’s true that health-related resolutions are the most common, with weight loss being one of the most popular. Do the math though and I’ll bet that desire to lose weight is no longer measured in years but rather decades.

Here then are some important concepts to consider if you want to break this relentless cycle for yourself, whether you choose to formally articulate your resolutions or simply bring more focus to your efforts in the coming year.

Willingness vs. Readiness

“I’m not ready” is an argument you may use when feeling pressure (external or self-imposed) to change. The problem is, it’s pure rationalization; it’s non-specific; it has no accountability. Since that moment of readiness will likely never come, you can keep yourself cocooned in this state for years. So let’s call a spade a spade. What you’re really saying is “I’m not willing…I’m not open…I’m not receptive to change”. Do you feel the immediate sense of personal accountability within those statements? Peeling away rationalizations allows you to see the truth of your situation, for it’s truth that has the only real power to move you into action.

Transformation and Change

“I can’t do it” is an argument you may use when feeling frustrated at not being able to create the change you want. But consider where you’ve probably been focusing all your energy to date – on changing behaviours like dieting and exercising – which is about lifestyle. If you’re not investing at least an equal amount of energy into transforming your beliefs on weight loss, the beliefs that enable you to say “I can do it” – which is about personal growth – any lifestyle changes you make will eventually revert. Transformation and change go hand in hand. Think of them as two different levels of manifestation in your life where transformation is internal and change is external. You need both to be successful.

As a weight loss coach, I see a lot of people putting their lives on indefinite hold with the “I’m not ready” argument or spinning their wheels with the “I can’t do it” argument. Give that desire of yours a voice this year! Choose compelling language and bring a willing spirit. Have the willingness to explore the truth of your situation, to invite the personal growth it holds for you and I assure you, you’ll be well on your way to finally creating the life, and the body, you want.

Action Item

If you’ve decided to make some changes in your life, you’re probably zeroing in on some long-standing, well-entrenched habits you want to break. Taken as a whole, these can seem daunting but taken step by step, they’re actually quite doable. This is where most people struggle. They don’t breakdown their thoughts or actions enough. It’s not enough to have a long-term vision with a collection of short-term outcomes. You need to be able to breakdown what you want “in the moment” when necessary.

Let’s look at a resolution we can all relate to – suppose you want to get up earlier so you can get a better start to your day, perhaps to do a bit of planning, some chores, have breakfast and work out. Phew! Couple all these expectations with a belief that says “I can’t do it…I’m not a morning person” and the Herculean effort you’re anticipating to get yourself rolling will only make you seek refuge under the covers. Trouble is, the fetal position is not your most resourceful state.

Here then are some key questions to consider in getting yourself in motion. Practice applying these in a familiar situation like this and you’ll find you can apply them anywhere you want to create transformation and change.

What am I anticipating?

You may have convinced yourself you’re just tired but repeatedly hitting the snooze button could be indicating some resistance you’re bringing to the moment. Resistance can take many forms - it just means you’re not aligned with what you say you want. For example, if your internal dialogue has you anticipating something will be hard to do, it’s not likely you’re going to greet the day with enthusiasm. Simply acknowledging what you may be thinking and questioning if this is true can help shift you out of inertia. Ironically, this ends up being much more energy efficient. Without resistance, there’s nothing to fight against, meaning all of your energy can be focused on what you want.

What am I willing to do in this moment?

No matter what you’re wanting to accomplish, it always comes down to the simplest action you’re willing to take in any given moment. So if you’re curled up in bed, this may mean simply swinging your legs over and sitting up, without any further expectation. Pause while your mind and body catch up, survey the situation from this new vantage point and consider what you’re willing to do next. What’s important here is that you’ve just interrupted your state. You’ve shifted from an inert, incongruent state to an active, congruent state. And every congruent action you take brings a natural momentum with it that will help carry you to your next simplest action.

What message does this action send me?

Taking action will change your behavioural patterns but if you want this to stick, the compelling aspects of the experience have to register in your memory through language. Words have the power to create our experiences not just describe them, so positive framing is key. This framing is a form of currency for us – it verbally defines, measures and rewards our progress, creating a compelling reason to repeat the experience. Words are also the conduits to our beliefs. These positive messages are the evidence our mind needs to transform our beliefs. Who knows…you might just discover there’s a “morning person” inside you after all.

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