Weight loss is as much about the mind as it is about the body. The proper mindset can make the difference between failing to lose weight or yo-yo dieting and getting rid of those extra pounds once and for all. When it comes to attaining the right mindset for successful weight loss, mantras can help. Mantras are phrases you say to yourself over and over until they become part of your psyche. The right ones can help you foster a mindset that will help you succeed.
'No Food is Bad or Good'
One of the main causes of failure in weight loss is an unhealthy attitude toward food. People tend to want what they believe they can't have. Banning "bad" foods -- be they chips, ice cream or a cold soda -- can cause intense cravings. Pamela Peeke, a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland, recommends eating 100 to 200 calories a day of your favorite treats, which will keep you from feeling deprived. You could, for example, enjoy an ounce of high-quality chocolate, nibbling it slowly to prolong your enjoyment.
'This Is for My Health'
Long-term weight loss requires permanent lifestyle changes, and change is never easy. Nutritionist Andrea Wenger Hess reports that people who make health -- not appearance -- their reason for trying to lose weight are more likely to succeed. After all, if your primary goal is to fit into a swimsuit, you're likely to ditch the diet as soon as the leaves turn gold. That isn't the case when you understand you're investing in your own future quality of life.
'Don't Break All the Dishes'
"Don't break all the dishes" is a metaphor for dealing with slip-ups and setbacks. Setbacks, reports MayoClinic.com, are a part of any behavior-change process, including weight loss. The key is not to give up when you slip up. If you eat four cookies, it doesn't mean you might as well eat the whole box, any more than dropping a single plate means you should smash all your china. Instead, try to think about what your mistake can teach you. Maybe you tend to binge on sugar when you're tired; you can start going to bed earlier so that doesn't happen.
'I Will Treat Myself as Well as I Treat Others'
A final inspirational mantra for weight loss is, "I will treat myself as well as I treat others." According to psychotherapist and author Jean Fain, practicing "self-compassion" is an essential part of weight loss, since beating yourself up often leads to comfort eating. This mantra works because you know how to be nice to others. You probably wouldn't walk up to another person and start insulting her. You have enough self-control to avoid insulting other people. You can avoid insulting yourself.
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