Biggest Motivation Killer

Before you reach for Psychology 101, let me just clarify: 'outcome anxiety' is not an official diagnosis. It's a name I've given to a phenomenon I have repeatedly observed in my own clients on their healthy nutrition journey.

Outcome anxiety is a trick the mind plays on the most determined dieter: the goal itself becomes the undoing of the whole endeavour.

And the bigger the ambition, the more acutely 'outcome anxiety' seems to hit.

For example...

Imagine your goal is to lose 3 stone and you're just 3 weeks into a healthy eating programme. Looking at this goal, and all the habits you're going to be changing, the decisions you're going to have to make, the temptations you're going to have to resist, it can seem like an endless journey to get there.

In reality, what you really would like, is to lose 3 stone RIGHT NOW, and be able to fit into those skinny jeans THIS Saturday. Wouldn't it be great to eliminate the uncertainty that lies ahead - the fear of losing your motivation somewhere along the way?

So basically what's happening is...

The fear of losing your motivation, the fear of failing is what causes you to lose your motivation and to fail. Twisted, huh?

It's also the mindset which diet pills and 'fast weight loss' plans have been cashing in on for so many years.

Sound familiar?

If it helps, you are certainly not the first to feel like this, and most probably won't be the last. Throughout history, famous thinkers have provided the same advice, from Chinese philosopher Lao Tsu ("Every journey, no matter how long begins with one step.") to Martin Luther King Jr ("You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."). Whether you are looking to lose weight or inspire nations, wanting the end result RIGHT NOW is definitely a recipe for failure.

One step at a time

Half the battle is just to recognise what's happening. Awareness removes the power from the fear! And then simply to take it one step at a time.

Just like one of my clients recently. One day, a few weeks into his nutrition weight loss programme, he came to me and said: "You know I think I've cracked it, I'm focusing on the process, not the outcome and actually I'm enjoying it all a lot more!" As soon as he started doing this, his results began to improve dramatically.

So why not try this for yourself? Enjoy the process, and remember: your ultimate goal should inspire you, never crush you!

Click on the link to find resources on how to follow a healthy and natural weight loss programme

You can find lots of free resources for weight loss and healthy nutrition at our website, http://www.superwellness.co.uk/, including videos, e-books and product trials.

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The Biggest Reason People Fail To Lose Weight

If you stepped on the scale every morning only to see a lower number than the day before, your clothes continued to become looser and looser, and you could see positive results in the mirror, would you continue to diet and/or exercise?

Absolutely, you would.

If losing weight is our goal, we ALL would. No matter how hard we were working out or how strict of a diet we were on... Results motivate us. In fact, we would probably start working even harder and refine our diet even more to get more drastic results.

Nothing is more motivating than results. Nothing!

On the other hand, if you are working out and eating right and not seeing any results either on the scale, your measurements, or in the mirror, you are very unlikely to continue busting your butt and restricting your diet. I mean... why would you?

The bad news: Effort and hard work doesn't necessarily lead to our desired results. Lots of people put forth both and get nowhere. I see it everyday.

Why is this? Several reasons...

- There is tons of misinformation out there about fat loss. You can't always believe what you read. While there is lots of good information available, just know that some of it is not true.

- People choose the wrong "diet" foods. Just because something is labeled as or considered a "diet" food, doesn't mean that will help (and not hinder) weight or fat loss.

- Some people waste tons of time and energy every week working out but not doing so in a way to get the results that they are striving for.

- Some will starve themselves, which royally screws up their metabolism and causes weight gain over time.

When this happens, what do you do? The large majority quit. And honestly, you can't blame them. Why would anyone continue to sacrifice if they aren't making any progress?

Think for a minute... Why are you working out so hard? Why are you giving up certain foods that you love? What is fueling all of this behavior?

The desire for results!

Whether the results you are after are related to better health, physical appearance, more confidence, feeling better/more energy, etc., results are what fuels 99% of people trying to lose weight. If results are not what's fueling you, you are going to quit and give up sooner rather than later.

A few pointers:

- A key bit of information