Getting Your Mind Right: 5 Positive Affirmations to Speak Daily While on Your Health and Fitness Journey
The Right Mindset Makes All the Difference
We’ve all heard the slogan for weight loss, “Eat less, exercise more, and you’ll lose weight.” Sounds simple enough, right? But it’s not. If weight loss was so easy, it wouldn’t be the billion-dollar industry it is today. This proves that diet and exercise alone just aren’t enough; they don’t fix the habits that made us gain weight in the first place or make us stick to our weight loss plans. What most people forget is how important your mindset is in the process.
Training Your Mind to Stay Positive While Losing Weight
Every big success starts in your mind, and losing weight is no different. To reach your fitness goals, you have to imagine yourself as the best version of yourself. This is where affirmations come in. Positive affirmations are short, encouraging statements you say aloud to build yourself up. I typically do my affirmations in the mornings. I’ll look at myself in the mirror and say them, and then pause for a moment to really reflect on what I just said.
Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or need some extra encouragement, try saying these five positive affirmations daily as part of your routine. They’ll help you feel good about yourself and stay on track with your goals.
“I’m thankful for what my body can do.”
On weight loss journeys, we tend to be overly critical of ourselves. We look at the cellulite on our thighs and the stretchmarks around our waists... But have you ever stopped and thought about the amazing things your body has done, what it currently does, and what it can do? You have to shift your focus. Just think—this body has carried a baby, this body beat cancer, and this body finds a way to embrace laughter even when life’s circumstances aren’t the best.
This affirmation is meant to change how you look at your body by shifting your focus towards how well it works instead of numbers on a scale. Celebrate your body’s accomplishments, no matter how big or small they may be.
“I am healthy and strong.”
Society and “diet culture” tell us that our bodies need to look a certain way to be considered healthy. But as you know, bodies come in all shapes and sizes—the ideal body is yours at its healthiest.
Have you ever had the tiniest thought about feeling sick, and then your body begins experiencing the symptoms from that thought? This is true for weight loss too. If you tell yourself you’re not seeing any change or that you don’t feel like doing something, your body will begin to feel tired, and your eyes will play tricks on you whenever you look in the mirror at yourself.
This affirmation is meant to “rewire your brain” in a sense. Basically, when you repeat this affirmation every day, your brain may begin to believe it as true and improve your health behaviors.
“I can do difficult things.”
This affirmation is meant to build self-assurance of your capabilities. We all know that losing weight isn’t easy, but people do it all the time. So, who says you can’t do it either? The thing about this affirmation is that it applies to many areas of life, but on your health and fitness journey, this can be running a 5K, walking a mile every day, or getting up at 5 a.m. to the gym every morning. It’s a behavior or action you commit to; you choose how often you do it.
With this affirmation, it’s also important you keep in mind that your goals are reachable and should be built over time. Avoid overly ambitious goals that you know you’re likely not going to accomplish. The key is to remember you’re wanting to create goals that can become full lifestyle habits you grow into.
“I can change.”
When things get too difficult on your weight loss journey, it’s easy to go back to old habits, but you have to remember, “You can do difficult things.” Part of that process is positive thinking and changing for the better. We all have parts of ourselves that we don’t like, right? Our hair color, our thoughts, and even our living spaces are all aspects of our journeys that we have complete control over—so, why not change it?
One of the best parts of a health and wellness journey is the ability to reinvent yourself. If you naturally have dark hair, dye it a lighter color! If your living room is cluttered, get rid of some stuff and turn it into an environment that makes you feel good! The bottom line is that you can be whoever you want to be during this process.
“I love myself, flaws and all.”
To me, this is the most important affirmation of all. None of us are perfect, so embrace every curve, stretch mark, dimple, hip dip, and any other imperfection you find on your body. It’s those features that make us uniquely us. Also, make it a point to say what those specific imperfections are too. It shows you are aware of them and love yourself anyway.
Self-talk is important in all areas of life, but positive self-talk can change the trajectory of your life. You have to remember that your fitness journey isn’t just about changing your body—it’s about changing your mindset and building a positive relationship with yourself. These affirmations remind you to celebrate your strengths and imperfections and to believe in your ability to grow and change. Recite these affirmations daily and watch how your life changes. I know mine has changed for the better!
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