Why wishes for weight loss always fail?

The top Wish Lists every year are “I want to loss some weight“, “I want to do more exercise”, “I want to eat healthier” ….However they usually remain “wishes” by the end of the year.   So what’s holding up to achieve these goals?

Being a personal trainer and weight management coach for over 20 years working with Hollywood stars and big corporate CEOs, I notice most of the failures are not because the lacking of knowledge.  Actually some of my students know so much about nutrition, calories, exercises, metabolism rate, BMI.  Sometimes the knowledge they have about different alternative weight loss methods e.g. oxygen, high temperature yoga…are more than I do.  So it’s really not about things they don’t know.

It’s about the intention!

Like many other things in life, there is no failure in any decent weight loss program, there is only quitting.  When you stop taking your pace in the program, when you give in your carve for oily and sweet foods, when you let your laziness and excuses sink in during work out time, when you enjoy big meals with friends and say “it’s the last time.  Tomorrow I will stick to the plan”, you quite!

In my years of experience working with diverse types of people, I find the successful rates amongst different groups are indeed varied.   As you can imagine, Hollywood movie stars usually have a higher successful rate in maintaining a slim body.  People having serious health issues due to weight problem come the second, while CEOs and politicians in the third.

So what are the successful factors of weight losing?  How to maintain a healthy weight really for lifetime?  How can you remain self-disciple over a lengthy period of time against attractiveness of (unhealthy) foods?

According to my observation, there are basically three factors for anyone to success in this lengthy battle.   They are: need, desire and support in that sequence.

Need

As you can see from the three groups who have a higher rate in achieving their weight loss goal, you can see a fundamental criterion.  They all have an urged need for maintaining a healthy weight or a slim body shape.  For the Hollywood stars, it is their career that hooks with a nice and admirable body shape.   Needless to say, people with health problem are forced to follow the weight loss program to keeping themselves alive.  And for politicians and CEOs, their voters’ support or businesses require them to be healthy, have a better personal image and be self-disciplined.  Fear is usually more powerful than want.

Desire

Although there is no pressing needs, desire is another forceful drive for one to stay in the course.  I always ask my students to put photo or object for self-motivation.  For example, some may place an old photo of their 20s to remain how beautiful they were and can be.  A lady with waist of 40 inches bough a bikini 2 sizes smaller and hangs it in front of her wardrobe.  The GM of a worldwide car dealer company even draw his idea face and body shape in his mirror to remain how far he is after his task everyday.

Support

Human beings are social animals.  We do not want to be isolated; we gain more power when we are being supported by others.  In my classes, I always assign partnership between students.  They can be two or three members in one team and they report to each other their progress, their frustration and share their excitement amongst themselves.

By doing so, the result is dramatic.  On one hand, the students gain the support and encouragement without feeling they are struggling alone.  On the other hand, they got kidda “scrutinized” and feel more obliged to the program and other team members.  They become responsible for the progress of the whole team.

I do hope you can make your wish come true in 2011.  I don’t want you to come to a stage when weight loss becomes a dreadful need to your health.  And I cannot help the strength of your desire.  But I do can assist you with getting more support.

Before 31 January 2011, you can get one more copy of my weight loss program as a gift to your friend.   I want you to have a partner that can be mutually supportive on your way to a healthy weight for life.   On top, there will be a half price on the program.  You may order it from http://weightlosseatingout.com/healthy-weight-for-life-with-my-best-friend/

Don’t let your wish list drifted along into 2012.

Miller McDonald