Being Optimistic Can Help You Lose Weight
Losing weight can be difficult, especially without optimism. You have to constantly make efforts, at least in the beginning, to improve your bad eating habits, find more time to play sports and take care of your body.
Even if, in the long run, these efforts are over and fall within the framework of a new lifestyle, there is one thing that many studies have confirmed: optimism plays an important role .
Indeed, when you have to try to put all these things together without any optimism, the goal of losing weight is more difficult. Negativity is one of the most common causes of failure when trying to shed those extra pounds.
The role of optimism
Negative behavior will work against you, the demotivation will be fast and you will quickly be disgusted by all the efforts you have to make to lose weight. You will feel frustrated when you realize the steps and sacrifices you will have to make to lose weight. However, when we develop a mindset of positive and healthy thinking, losing weight becomes easier. Playing sports can become a pleasure, and eating a balanced diet will give you a feeling of well-being.
From the start of the diet, you have to believe in yourself. Numerous studies show that increased optimism (1) in patients can lead to better results in maintaining a healthy lifestyle . Believe in your abilities, and always be confident in the face of this challenge to overcome. Do not hesitate to regularly think of positive thoughts such as: “I know that I can do it”, “I know that I am worth the effort”, “the actions put in place will allow me to achieve my goal “, etc.
The idea is to generate and maintain a positive mental attitude. Losing weight is a challenge, the tests in general are always less hard when they are faced with a smile.
However overflowing optimism can also be detrimental to weight loss. Indeed, according to a Japanese study published in the journal BioPsychoSocial Medicine (2) , too much optimism at least during the first stages of the diet could prove harmful to the future success of the program. This team of scientists noted that certain negative emotions could even have a positive effect on behavioral modification depending on people’s personalities.
It is also worth noting that other studies have already shown (3) that an optimistic outlook is associated with greater longevity , and a lower risk of heart disease . Optimism generally provides many other health benefits than simple assistance during a diet to lose weight.
In a very general way, optimism is associated with a higher quality of “diet”: the higher the optimism, the higher the quality of the diet. This was demonstrated recently by Melanie Hingle, of the University of Arizona, in a study (4) published fairly recently.
All these different studies are clear: with more optimism, you increase your chances of being healthier .
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.