Is Your Self-Image Blocking Lasting Weight Loss?
Chances are if you’ve struggled with your weight, you’ve probably had some of these thoughts run through your mind:
- “I hate my body.”
- “I’ll always be the fat one.”
- “I look disgusting. I’m embarrassed to have my picture taken.”
- “I’m weak. I’m a failure.”
- “No matter what I do I can’t lose weight.”
- “I don’t deserve to be happy or thin.”
- “I’m not good enough.”
The problem is these aren’t just passing thoughts – they’re powerful affirmations.
We often think of affirmations as positive words we say to ourselves to feel better and boost our self-esteem.
But what many people don’t realize is that every time we say or think something negative about ourselves, we’re affirming those negative thoughts and beliefs.
It’s like having a vision board of what you DON’T want to happen in your life.
Your Thoughts and Words Become Your Self-Image
- Over time, these negative thoughts and words begin to shape your self-image. This is because your brain doesn’t just hear them – it records them. The more often you think a thought, the more it gets wired into your subconscious mind. Over time it becomes a belief. And here’s why this matters when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off.
- The beliefs in our subconscious minds dictate about 90% of our actions and behaviors, even when it comes to weight loss.
- Consciously, you can say “I want to lose weight.” But if your brain is wired around a self-image that says “I’m broken,” “I’m unworthy,” or “I’m just destined to be fat” – chances are you’ll continue to struggle.
And here’s the tricky part: Even if you manage to lose some weight, those negative beliefs just don’t disappear. They’re still wired into your subconscious mind, running the show behind the scenes.
Before you know it, you’re sliding back into the old patterns and behaviors that sabotage your weight loss efforts and make it nearly impossible to keep the weight off once you’ve lost it.
That’s why so many women regain the weight – not because they didn’t try hard enough, but because their self-image pulled them back to what feels familiar.
Change Your Self-Image by Changing Your Beliefs
The good news is that you can change your self-image by changing your beliefs. And this is exactly what my client, who I’ll call Susan, did to help her lose over 100 pounds and keep it off for over 2 years now.
She went from:
- Hating her body (as a child she was bullied, called names and made fun of);
- Stuffing her emotions with food (because she didn’t believe she was worthy to be seen and heard);
- And seeing herself as a person who would always be overweight (even if she managed to lose some weight)…
To someone who now has the following beliefs about herself and her body:
- “I treat my mind and body with love and respect and healthy foods.”
- “I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”
- “I am worthy of living in a healthy, lean and strong body.”
As I mentioned above, Susan lost over 100 pounds and is keeping it off, which of course is fantastic, but there’s more to the story!
By changing the beliefs she had about herself and improving her self-image, her perception of herself is more positive.
She has increased confidence and self-esteem, which has improved her mental health and her relationship with others. She has more resilience and handles stress with more ease. And she’s finding happiness in ways she didn’t know were possible.
And You Can Do This Too!
You don’t have to stay stuck in the same old patterns. With the right tools, you can change your beliefs, create a healthier self-image, and open the door to lasting weight loss.
I’d love to help you find the same kind of success that Susan – and so many of my clients – have experienced.
That’s why I created a free training: How to Stop Cravings and Emotional Eating So You Can Lose the Weight and Keep It Off.
In it, you’ll discover how to release old patterns, rewire your thoughts, lose the weight and keep it off – and finally feel good about yourself and your body.
Click HERE to watch it now.
Please Join the Conversation:
What negative thoughts have sneaked up on you lately? How do they affect your self-image?
My sister used to tell me I was fat when I was a UK size 10 (US 12 I think). At the time I weighed around 8 stones. She’s older, the generation who as teenagers had skinny models like Twiggy in magazines.
It really used to upset me because when I was a teenager she also had a partner who used to tell me I had a huge backside. He was a very vain person and obsessed with weight and body image.
Now in my 60s I’ve been a size 16 after becoming post menopausal at 46. My metabolism was wrecked by chemo drugs and steroids when I had cancer in my 40s and I yo yo up and down between the same 10lbs. I accept the way I am, dress well for my size and shape, but the most important thing is I’m fit and healthy so I don’t make my body an issue.
I worry that I’ll gain it back.