Think yourself slim

You have to change your mind if you want to change your body shape. Read on for the facts on the new diet that's changing women's lives. By Rachel Heaton

Click here for your seven-day Think Yourself Slim diet plan 

 

Weight gain is about what you eat and how you think. Here, we reveal how you can lose 4lb - without crash dieting - in just seven days, and then continue on this healthy eating regime until you've attained your ideal goal weight.

 

Most of us are all too familiar with the basics of losing weight - eat less and move more. So why is it that no matter how much we want to lose weight, we let ourselves down and become our own worst enemies? We've all been there, rewarding ourselves for a day's good dieting with just one piece of chocolate - and before you know it the whole bar has gone!

 

According to Sandy Newbigging, a mind detox expert, in order to succeed with a diet, we actually need to change the way we think. "Most diets don't take into account that we have emotions that drive all our behaviours," he explains. "And if the emotional drivers for unhealthy habits aren't changed first, it can be almost impossible to lose weight. So the first step is to discover, and then resolve, the underlying emotional causes of your weight gain."

 

Along with leading health expert Amanda Hamilton, he has written 'Life-Changing Weight Loss' (Piatkus, £12.99), which combines a nutritious diet with a plan designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of what is really making you pile on the pounds. Amanda explains, "Our plan is made up of three steps. First, discover why you weigh what you do; second, resolve the reasons for your excess weight; and third, enjoy the body you want for life." By addressing these issues, you'll improve your physical and mental wellbeing as well as your emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

 

"The majority of weight loss programmes starve the body of nutrients," Amanda continues. "Even when you think you are dieting hard, eating ‘low-fat' foods - these are often low in nutrients and this means that your body doesn't feel satisfied, with the result that you subsequently overeat. Have you ever found yourself gorging on crisps, sweets or ice cream? The answer is almost certainly yes. But have you ever overeaten mackerel, lentil soup or salmon? Of course not - that's because with the second group of foods your body is satisfied quickly and feels fuller for longer. It is not unusual these days to be overweight, or even obese, yet also be undernourished or even malnourished. However, with a few simple dietary changes to maximise the nutrients you consume, you'll not only feel far more satisfied, you'll also harness your body's ability to burn excess fat and maintain a healthy weight." And this, combined with resolving the emotional attachments we all have to food, can finally make long-term weight loss possible.

 

"Your body is constantly responding to your moods and thoughts," says Sandy, "so it's important to understand the emotions that drive you to overeat and to replace them with new, positive beliefs. In other words, by resolving the reasons for the weight gain, the weight has no alternative but to go, and for good!"

 

For your mind

 

Write down why you think you weigh more than you should. If, for example, you believe that you can't lose weight easily, your mind will follow this belief and order your body to store more pounds. Challenge this belief with a contradictory, positive statement every time it crosses your mind.

 

Your self-image can have a huge impact on your mood - if you feel happy, your body produces serotonin, the positive hormone, which helps to curb your appetite. To become more upbeat, create your own optimistic statement such as: "I am (three adjectives), (three nouns), who (three verbs)" eg I am a healthy, passionate, intelligent, wife, mother and champion who inspires others, respects herself and laughs. Write down this statement and say it aloud every day. Eventually, you'll become the person you are describing and this positive outlook will help your levels of weight loss and happiness.

 

Be nicer to yourself - we're often our own worst enemies. If you believe you can't lose weight, you won't be in the right frame of mind to lose it. Our thoughts and bodies work together, so try to focus on your positive points and stop being so self-critical. Try to give yourself a break!

 

For your body

 

Avoid eating when you're stressed, instead only eat when you're genuinely hungry - and remember that digestion starts in the mouth, so chew your food properly, at least 20 times per mouthful. Digestion is vital for weight management - the better your body digests, the better ‘tuned in' you are to what your body needs.

 

Maximise the nutrients - eat ‘real' foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Sometimes, it's the best approach to take, because raw vegetables and fruits supply your body with an abundance of nutrients and enzymes, some of which are lost through cooking. And opt for organic dark chocolate as it's better than the poorer quality, higher fat alternatives. Almond milk can replace cow's milk as it's cholesterol free. And if you can't pronounce an ingredient on a label, it's likely to be a chemical and you probably shouldn't be eating it.

 

Avoid foods that include refined sugar and salt and simple carbs (honey, fruit juice, white pasta) as well as caffeine and alcohol - and cigarettes too. And drink plenty of non-sparkling water - bottled or filtered - to help your body flush out toxic waste.

 

Now click here for your seven-day Think Yourself Slim diet plan 

 

 

---

 

 

You might also like...

 

Our diets directory: all our weight-loss plans in one place

 

Eating habits that make you fat

Subscribe - SAVE over 40%