All About Attitude

By Brett Ballantini

It’s a bold new year, which provides the perfect opportunity to reprioritize all areas of your life: work, family, friends. Chances are, however, like many Americans, not taking the proper time out for that bold new you gradually settles into the daily norm. As a result, your mental, as well as physical, wellness takes a sluggish turn.

It doesn’t have to be that way. It is actually possible to feel good while losing weight all year long. To start, let’s set the record straight: Everyone has personal struggles. Whether it’s not being active enough, carrying too much weight or struggling to keep a positive outlook year-round, you’re not alone.

Metabolism 101

Early into the weight loss process, keep in mind the amazing power of patience. When our weight creeps too high, there’s an immediate prescription to enroll in boot camp or starve all weekend, lose five or 10 pounds at a sneeze and look “normal” again.

But weight loss doesn’t work this way. Extreme dieting only slows your metabolism and weight loss to a pace that’s not only agonizing but unhealthy, too. Practicing patience and kindness with yourself leads to improved moods, self- confidence and overall long-term health.

More importantly, this by-the-numbers patience pays off. For instance, if you cut just 100 calories a day (that’s two Oreos or one cup of whole milk or 10 tortilla chips), you’ll lose a pound a month. And that’s without exercise or other food denial.

Patience also reaps surprising, long-term results. Obesity Research published a study that confirmed keeping off weight does get easier over time. Dieters who lost at least 30 pounds and kept off weight for two years found it easier to avoid adding pounds in successive years. In short, little changes add up.

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Purely Positive

The initial step toward a healthier life is simply accepting yourself for who you are. No positive journey to permanent change ever begins with beating yourself up. Thus, positive actions beget positive goals.

“How you begin your efforts is key,” says Dr. Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic. “You need to set yourself up to succeed. Attitude is extremely important but often not appreciated.”

A truly hidden element of successful weight loss is as simple as a smile.

“The common attitude associated with weight loss is ‘Oh, I’ve got to go on a diet,’ said in a joyless tone of voice,” Hensrud says. “But this negative attitude anticipates drudgery, like you’re constantly trudging uphill toward an elusive goal.”

Strategies of the Mayo Clinic and countless other popular weight loss programs all accentuate the positive. That means there is no stipulated goal or movement to achieve but a directive to follow your bliss: Feel good each day, and try to feel a little better the next.

“Many people find that when they were more physically active, they felt better, so listen to that and use it as motivation to be active,” Hensrud says. “Does it take some effort to move regularly, especially when just starting? Sure. Will it take more time? Absolutely. But it’s well worth it for your weight, health and how you feel. And if you start out with the right attitude, you can succeed.”

Mental Exercising

Need a little help getting your mind on board with exercising? Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

Keep It Fun

Sometimes the sheer thought of working out is enough to break out in hives. Create a mind flip by not calling any of it “exercise” or “working out.” Relish short, small, helpful movements each day. Choose to walk along the beach, ride a bike, toss a Frisbee, play fetch with your dog (or, ahem, have steamy sex!) and leave it at that. No labels, no schedules, only fun.

The sneaky secret is your body will quickly become accustomed to this new habit of physical activity and even crave it, no longer deeming exercise as “work.” By then, working out won’t be scary at all.

Walk Like A Floridian

In a state as beautiful as Florida, there’s no valid excuse not to walk close to 365 days a year. And again, the beauty is you don’t have to don an extra overcoat or carry wrist weights. Simply open your door and amble about to convert five minutes you might otherwise spend sitting at the computer or watching TV.

The American Heart Association recommends that adults take 10,000 steps per day to keep fit and fend off disease. If that sounds like an impossible amount, here again is where patience pays off.

“If you are not currently exercising, aiming for 5,000 or even 2,500 steps a day may be more appropriate,” says Chris Jordan, director of exercise physiology for Johnson & Johnson. “When it becomes easy, you can progress gradually to 7,500, then 10,000 steps a day, and so on.”