How To Use Visualization To Help You Quickly Lose Weight

The surprising fact is that many conditions can be improved by visualization and weight loss is one of them. It works like this: you keep a vision in your mind of how you want your body to look, and subconsciously you will begin acting in a way that will go in that direction. You become much more positive about your body, more accepting of your diet or fitness regime, and you will reach your weight goals more quickly and easily.
Effecting change through visualizing desired outcomes has become more and more acceptable in recent years. Psychologists do not understand exactly how it works but clearly the mind and body are not as separate as we often believe. It seems that if you truly want something it is more likely to happen - provided of course that it is something that is possible, and within your control. Visualization helps us to truly want to lose weight by creating a clear and happy picture of our fitter bodies. Without this we can often put psychological traps in our own path.

Many people who are overweight believe they cannot lose weight. Sometimes you may say it out loud, or hear friends say it about themselves. For other people this belief stays in the subconscious. But it is sure that it influences our behavior. Someone who believes it is impossible for her to lose weight will be constantly battling her own negativity when she is trying to diet. Her mind will be constantly telling her there is no point dieting, she cannot lose weight so she should just go ahead and eat everything she wants. Visualization is the strongest technique that we can use to overcome these negative thoughts and impulses.

If you are plagued by negativity either from your own mind or from the reactions of friends and family to your diet, go ahead and visualize yourself at your desired weight as often as you can. It works on the same level as all those negative voices and can annihilate their influence like nothing else can.

It is important to practice every day - morning and evening if you can. You just need to take a few minutes in a quiet place and keep an image in your mind of your body at its ideal weight. Some people can do this easily, others need some help. If you have a photograph of yourself at your ideal weight in the past, you may find it easier to look at that. Or use a photo from a magazine but cut off the person's face. You need to visualize your own body, but thinner.

You can also visualize from the inside. Close your eyes and let your awareness focus on a part of your body - for example, your right thigh. Imagine it slowly becoming thinner in your mind's eye. Then move to the other thigh, and on through the body. It may help to start at the feet and move up towards the head, or vice versa.

As you go about your work or daily chores, think of yourself as already at your ideal weight. Create your own affirmations and repeat them often, always in the present tense ("I am glad to be flexible, fit and slim", not "I will ..."). Enjoy the feeling of having a positive self-image. Over time, this will help you to keep to your weight loss plan. You will find that fatty foods are less attractive and exercise is more enjoyable.

While your weight loss will of course be gradual, the wonderful thing about visualization is that it gives you a new body image right away. Use visualization and weight loss to make you happier right now, today!


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For Long-Term ResultsThink Healthy Lifestyle


We love to hate that four-letter word: DIET.  The word itself is loaded with preconceived notions about starvation, deprivation, discomfort and struggle.  Who wants to go there?  Not many of us. 

Rather than starting another "diet," why not change your outlook about eating and exercise, and start seeing your daily choices as components of a healthy lifestyle?

Healthy Lifestyle Choice #1

The first thing to keep in mind is that strict "diets" don't work.  Oh sure, you can lose weight by sucking down a gallon of cabbage soup every day for a week or two - but what happens when you start eating other foods again?  You gain the weight right back.  

Rather than embarking on strict, unrealistic eating plans, a healthy lifestyle includes plenty of food options that you can easily continue eating for the rest of your life.  Remember, your goal isn't just to "lose weight" but to keep it off!  The best way to do that is by making moderate choices that you can live with forever.

Healthy Lifestyle Choice #2

Have you ever started a diet plan that included an intense, challenging workout routine?  It's not fun, is it?  If you were lucky enough not to strain muscles or otherwise injure yourself, you probably still felt exhausted and sore and vowed never to exercise again.  Fortunately you don't HAVE to work out like a pro athlete in order to get in shape.  Just moderate exercise several times a week is enough for beginners.  

As you get stronger, you can definitely increase the intensity and/or length of your workouts - but let your body be your guide about how much it can handle!  Any feelings of pain, dizziness, or extreme fatigue are signs that you're doing too much.  (It's a good idea to speak to your doctor before beginning an exercise routine, just to be sure you don't have any health issues that could make exercise dangerous for you.)

Healthy Lifestyle Choice #3

Indulgences are okay!  The last thing you want to do is restrict all of the foods you love for the rest of your life.  Even if you think having a thin, sexy body would be worth the sacrifice, you're going to be miserable if you don't allow yourself a little flexibility in your eating plan.  (Have you ever noticed that naturally thin people indulge now and then too?)  The key in keeping indulgences under control is to have SMALL indulgences, and only occasionally - perhaps once per week.   

Rather than eating a monster slice of chocolate cake, you could try just a few bites while savoring them immensely.  You'd be amazed at how satisfied you can be with a small serving of something yummy if you take your time eating it and really enjoy it.  This all sounds so much more appealing than a strict, inflexible, deprivation "diet" doesn't it?  This type of approach works even better than a "diet" and is so much easier to stick to, which dramatically improves your chances for permanent weight loss.


Weight-Loss