Reverse The Negative Self-Talk

Ladies, it’s time to be your biggest cheerleader. Because in a world where body-shaming is on the rise, it’s no surprise that we’re all a little guilty of talking not-so-nicely to the person that matters the most, ourselves.

Negative self-talk really can have an impact on the scales. When we unnecessarily punish ourselves for experiencing a setback or moment of indulgence. When we never celebrate the tiny wins because we’re too busy aiming for perfection. Then we really are the wall in front our weight loss journey.  

Let’s take some time to understand what’s behind the negative self-talk. And if you stay with us, we’ll show you some ways to overcome it.

“It’s all or nothing”
Do you go from being 100% committed to then believing you’re a total failure, after just one setback? That’s an all or nothing approach, right there.

There’s no middle ground, which means you’re more likely to throw in the towel at the first hurdle, rather than stick with it. Remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint. And you’re going to find it tough, but the feeling at the finish line will make it all worth it.

“I want to have a perfect body”
Is how you think about your body tied to how you value yourself? Like, do you see yourself as successful only if you reach a certain weight?

If you’ve answered yes, then you may want to consider how a negative body image is holding you back. Rather than putting all the attention on your body’s appearance, why not focus on your body’s ability. Be grateful for the things you can do physically.

“I’m stressed out, so it doesn’t matter”
Are you someone who turns to food to calm yourself down? Do you see comfort food as your go-to when things are tough?

While the sweet and savoury fix might feel good in the short term, it almost always ends in judgement in the long run. Who is that judge? It’s you. When stressed you’re literally feeding the cycle; making bad choices then feeling bad afterwards. You’ve got to know the cycle to break it.

Keep a journal
Each day record what you’ve eaten, how much you’ve exercised AND how you feel. After a few weeks or so, look back and see if there are any patterns of negative thinking. Are there any triggers for your negative self-talk?

Tweak your self-talk 
Really listen to your self-talk. Are you kind to yourself?

If the answer is no, then there’s a few tweaks you can make when “Miss Judgement” is in town. Rather than…
    “My thighs are so big” try “my legs are strong”
    “I feel fat” try “Fat is a feeling. I accept my body and I’m working on it”

Make sleep your thing 
Getting a good night’s sleep is keeping your perspective; like recognizing where you are on the weight loss journey and understanding that you’re not there, yet.  You will get there!

Sleep not only gives you the energy to exercise, but it’s the backing you need to fight off those negative feelings.

So there you have it; we’ve just put negative self-talk under the spotlight. And it’s a harsh light. But it’s no harsher than how we speak to ourselves.

Getting good at understanding our triggers and spotting patterns of thinking will help us to step out of our own way and really go for it!