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Are Are Your Thoughts About Your Body Holding You Back From Success??

By Ed Downes

When someone joins my personal coaching program, one of the first things I ask them to do is to describe exactly what their body is going to look like once I help them reach their goal weight. I ask them to do this in writing ñ not over the phone, and hereís why.

Deeply imbedded negative thoughts are what cause us to have difficulties in any weight loss or health enhancement program ñ in fact, our past failures can almost always be traced back to negative thoughts that we didnít even realize we had.

Most of our negative thinking comes out when we write things down on paper (or on the computer).

I challenge you to write out 10 brief descriptions about how your body will look in 30 days if you were coached by someone like me ñ someone who knows exactly how to transform the human body no matter what stage of the game youíre currently at.

Go ahead, take a moment and write out what your face would look like, what your arms would look like, what your legs and your butt would look like ñ would your skin look different, would your muscles be tighter, would you be leaner ñ detail everything, then come right back.

Did you do it?

Make your list now before reading any further ñ I want you to walk away with some profound knowledge of yourself when youíre done reading this article. OK, now that you have your list, let me show you something that you can use to judge whether or not youíve been causing yourself to fail in your attempts to lose weight and keep it off.

Here are some examples of statements that a good friend of mine used to have before he and I began working together ñ statements that were literally holding him back from success:

Faceñmore chiseled features, no double chin, no doughy jowls or puffy cheeks, no bags under the eyes.

Other than improved facial shape, I really have no complaints at all about my face, hair, eyes, nose, ears.

Neckñno double chin or ìwattleî

Chestñno gynecomastia (womanly breasts), muscular instead. Look, ma, I can see my ribcage and pectoral muscles instead of a soft mattress of flab.

Armsñhard sinewy curves instead of soft breadsticks. Seeing veins and muscles instead of smooth fat.

Abdomenñare there really abs hiding in there? Theyíve never made an appearance in 50 years! Itíd be nice to have a tight waist not uncomfortably sliced by too-tight underwear.

Legsñless of a conical shape, more elongated and solid. Although my calves have always been rather large and firmñmy best body part, next to my brain.

Buttocksñless sag, more form
Backñcould be a lot less hairy, would be nice to see a ìVî shape instead of a truncated pyramid.

Can you see why he might have had a few troubles in the past reaching his goal?

But Iíll let you in on a little secret ñ this guy is in great shape now and enjoying life more than ever, and heís a pleasure to speak with each week in our coaching calls.

Now hereís a list from a woman who recently completed one of my coaching programs ñ this list was written out after our first session together ñ watch how positive every statement is:

WHAT MY BODY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE:

my face will be thinner, more defined
my posture will be great all of the time
my legs will be free of cellulite and extra fat
my butt will be sculpted and defined
my abs will be tight and defined
my arms will be cut and defined and strong and sexy!
my chest will be lifted and shapely
my back will show definition and be sexy!
I will feel the urge to walk around naked all the time! (around my house and my husband, of course)
I will walk confidently knowing that I look great!
I will compliment my awesome body with cool clothes that show it off
I will wear a bikini from now on!!! No shorts over the bottom!
I will wear those short shorts I have sitting in my closet
my skin will be clear
I will be unbelievably beautiful and sexy!!!
When making your list, make sure to avoid using any negatives, and have fun with this exercise ñ the short time you take out of your day to make your list will save you tons of time and frustration in the near future.

About the Author:

Ed Downes – AFPA - Certified Personal Trainer
Paradise Boot Camp
www.ParadiseBootCamp.com