The body and the mind are closely related disciplines, because the sciences that study both, psychology and nutrition, together form strategies that adequately prepare for a struggle that society is increasingly concerned about: the battle to lose weight.
The impact of thoughts originating in our mind directly influences not only how we look, but also how we want to define our figure.
Before starting a diet: willpower
Before starting a nutritional program with the goal of getting closer to the ideal weight, you have to be aware of the sacrifice involved and be prepared. A strict slimming diet implies a demand that goes far beyond the stomach itself and that will affect the ingredients, schedules and routines, the follow-up of the program and the quantities.
All of this, moreover, requires infinite patience with the times set by the body. The body cannot be modified overnight and, much less, it cannot become unaccustomed to some habits to get used to others imminently.
Thus, success or failure depends on the urgency or reflection on what we really need. Set a realistic goal and go for it, with clear facts and figures that show us the curve of our evolution and the competence of our will.
Achieving the desired aspect supposes, therefore, to put on the table the willpower to evaluate it and to accept how far we are willing to go. As long as you do not jeopardize your health, your effort will define the kilos that will later say goodbye to us.
Exercising the mind in this aspect will be the first step towards greater resistance to suffering, a more positive attitude and, ultimately, the attainment of the ultimate reward.
During the diet: emotional balance
Generally, rapid weight loss programs involve very strict changes in eating habits, without taking into account the consequences for health. These diets can cause physical and psychological disturbances such as irritability, tiredness, sadness, apathy, headaches and sleep difficulties.
For this reason, it is necessary to avoid this type of restrictions, because in the long run they can be the first reason for abandonment.
Many studies contradict each other on the psychosocial consequences of these express diets, assuring that in some cases instant benefits are obtained from the improvement of the image, while others criticize the anxiety and depression caused.
In any case, everything depends on the person and the specific case. In conclusion, it is necessary to warn that the physical changes that we expect with the diet may also be accompanied by psychological changes that we did not expect at the beginning. Being aware of this and finding the middle ground of balance, keeping the focus on the final goal, will bring us closer to it.
At the end of the diet: slow life, slow eating
This is perhaps the most important moment of the nutritional and mental program. Reaching the ideal weight and the desired delineated figure is not the end. In fact, it is the moment of greatest awareness to avoid going backwards.
For this reason, it is important to follow slow eating, a term that refers to the international movement called slow life, which proposes to take advantage of every moment by being conscious of every action we take.
In a similar way to mindfulness meditations, those who enjoy a slow life enjoy the small pleasures of the day such as taking a shower, cooking or eating. Promoting this philosophy by the taste for gastronomy and the care of food will help us to fix habits that we have already experienced during the diet.
Some tips from the slow fooders could be:
- Be informed about what you eat: it is important to know the types of fats, foods or drinks, the nutritional contribution of each ingredient and program the menus according to what the body asks for.
- Enjoy cooking: cooking from scratch and over low heat as they did in the old days is your great ally for a healthy life.
- Wait 30 seconds between bites: chewing food well gives the body time to experience the feeling of satiety, to avoid eating more and gaining weight.
- Eat without rushing: enjoy the time to eat, because it takes 20 minutes for the signal sent by the stomach to the brain to tell it that it is satiated.