During the course of the programme, there will be days when you feel overwhelmed by all your responsibilities, disappointed with your weight-loss results or just despondent with life in general. On these days you will feel like throwing in the towel. Has this ever happened to you?
To convince ourselves that it is the right thing to do, we attempt to justify our reason for giving up with some excuse. Accept that this is quite normal. You are not immune and it happens to everyone. It will also happen to you. Prepare well in advance for those days by anchoring your own weight-loss ambition on a daily basis. Why do you want to lose weight? What will the benefits of weight loss be? Sell yourself the benefits of weight-loss on a daily basis. This will strengthen your desire to stay on the right path. Ask yourself, “Is this goal of mine really worth sacrificing just because I am feeling miserable, tired or sorry for myself?”
To assist you, we are providing you with two diagrams. Mount them both somewhere, where you can read them on a daily basis. Read Diagram A when you have some quiet time to contemplate your life, your next day and your future. Plan ahead. Strengthen your commitment. Diagram B belongs against the refrigerator or pantry door and is based on a standard psychotherapeutic technique called cognitive behavioural therapy. It helps you to think differently by allowing you the opportunity to challenge your own thoughts before you act.
What you need to remember:
You are in this programme with a long-term ambition. Instant gratification, however, is a powerful and persuasive force. When you find yourself stuck in the “all” or “nothing” position, always choose the “something-in-between” route. This small and seemingly insignificant strategy, will give you the emotional strength to remain in control
