Promoting the idea that only a restricted diet could produce a slim body became ingrained in our consciousness years ago, when “eating less” was tagged as the key component to weight loss. Decades later, people are still attempting to lose weight with diets and diet plans that don’t work.
Unfortunately, because dieting involves food restriction, it never works, at least long-term. It did not work decades ago; it doesn’t work now and won’t work in the future. Yet nearly 50% of the population continues down this dead-end path of dietary restrictions believing it will lead them to their desired weight.
The question remains. Why, when less calories are going in is weight not coming off?
It’s all about body chemistry. The body has been genetically programmed to protect itself from short-term food shortages and even long-term famines. A restricted diet awakens this ancient protective mechanism, and it goes to work cranking up our appetite and motivating us to look for food while slowing our metabolism, reducing energy and conserving output. This is the main reason diets fail nearly 95% of the time, resulting in fat/weight gain, not weight loss.
One important piece often overlooked in weight-loss discussions is the role of stress hormones, particularly cortisol. When the body is under constant emotional or mental stress, it perceives danger, even if that danger is only psychological. Elevated cortisol signals the body to store fat, especially around the abdomen, as a survival response. This means that negative self-talk, shame around food, and frustration with one’s body can physiologically sabotage weight-loss efforts. Visualization and affirmations help calm the nervous system, signaling safety to the body and allowing metabolism to function as it was designed.
So, if restricted diets do not work, how do we lose weight and keep it off?
Like all created things, a slim, toned body requires a pattern to follow, an image to represent, an outline to fill in – an architectural blueprint of instructions.
In other words, a slim, toned body must first be created in the mind before it manifests in form. Without this initial outline to follow, the mind diverts to the default image, the one that “sees an overweight, unhealthy body.” No amount of exercise or dietary restricting can overcome this etched in our mind, fixed image.
Our Inner Program –
If we have not yet achieved the level of weight-loss success we hoped for, it is likely because our thoughts, feelings and beliefs, our inner mind software is out of alignment with our external wishes (the body we are trying to manifest).
Our inner programming must be addressed first using visualization, affirmations and other mind shifting techniques because permanent weight-loss is mental, not physical.
Another key factor is identity. Most people attempt to lose weight while still internally identifying as someone who struggles with weight. The subconscious mind is loyal to identity, not goals. When visualization is practiced consistently, it begins to gently replace the old identity with a new one. Over time, choices around food, movement, and self-care naturally shift because they are now aligned with who you believe yourself to be. This is why visualization is most powerful when it focuses not just on appearance, but on how you live, move, and feel as the healthy version of yourself.
Using mind-visualization to achieve goals is nothing new. Eastern Martial arts have always promoted and emphasized the importance and use of visualization techniques to supplement physical training as a path to mental and physical well-being. Elite athletes have counted on this mental discipline for decades. In fact, it is rare to find a professional or amateur athlete that does not use some form of mental imagery or creative visualization technique to enhance performance. They not only exercise their bodies to get in shape, but exercise and discipline their minds to see and even feel their successful result before it happens.
Imagine and visualize yourself thin. Imagine shopping as a thin person. Imagine how confident and in control you’ll feel as a thin, toned person. How has life changed and what does it feel like? How fun is it to try on clothes and look at your image in the mirror?
Inner transformation is what leads to outer transformation. Not the other way around. Permanent weight-loss will remain a mystery if we have not yet broken through the fixed, distorted inner programming currently controlling our weight and body image.
The reality is, weight-loss obstacles and roadblocks are in our head, not our stomach. Therefore, changing the way we think about weight-loss empowers us to turn our dreams into reality.
It’s time we flesh out all thoughts working against our weight-loss, slim body goals and we do this by upgrading our software to a new line of thinking. It requires that we rid our subconscious of all hidden fears, anxieties and beliefs that exist about our image, especially the ones dictating and sabotaging our weight-loss efforts.
It is also important to understand that affirmations are not about forcing positive thoughts over negative ones.They are about introducing new, truthful options to the subconscious. When paired with emotion and repetition, affirmations slowly dissolve resistance rather than creating inner conflict. If an affirmation feels uncomfortable at first, that discomfort is not failure, it is information. It simply points to an outdated belief ready to be released. With patience and consistency, the mind softens, the body responds, and weight-loss becomes a natural side effect of inner alignment rather than a constant battle.
Once our inner programming, outline and blueprint reflects and matches what we want on the outside of our body, we can be sure success will follow. Using visualization techniques combined with affirmative statements can help speed the process.
Writing Exercise to clear the mind-
Here’s a great writing exercise that helps clear and clean the mind:
Begin with conscious intent by writing down your weight loss goals on the top page of a notebook or journal. Be clear and specific, stating the exact amount of weight you want to lose, how it will make you feel and how it will change your life.
As you write from your heart, honest and direct, take note of any negative thoughts or feelings that surface. These negative notes are easy to glean as they often begin with a hesitant word like “but.”
But, even if I reach my goal, I won’t be able to maintain all the actions I must take in order to maintain my weight-loss goal.
But, even if I lose the weight, I won’t feel happy, so what’s the use?
But I don’t want to give up my comfort foods. The ones that I turn to when my emotions are in chaos.
But I don’t want to feel deprived and different than others.
Once you can visually see these thought-culprits on paper, begin rating and numbering them from 1-10 with 10 being the toughest and most intense and 1 being the least intense.
Once rated, it’s time to begin gently tapping certain bodily energy meridians, the same ones used in acupuncture. While tapping, you will also use the strength of positive affirmations. The goal is to reframe and reverse each negative belief.
Located in the centre of your chest above the breast line but below the collar bone, right smack in the middle of your chest is your thymus gland. Using fingertips, tap in a circle clockwise about two inches around the thymus while stating positive affirmations of your choice. Make them as personal as possible.
I will maintain my ideal weight with ease.
I am patient and loving towards myself as I take steps towards being a healthier me.
I am making healthier choices and dictating a healthier future.
I accept my past and look forward to a bright and successful future.
I choose to be positive and surround myself with positive people.
I am thin, agile, toned and healthy!
Tap in a circle around the thymus gland 5-6 times for each affirmation stated.
They can be done multiple times daily or whenever necessary, stated together while tapping or one at a time. Do what feels right to you.
Keep this exercise going until your negative beliefs begin to feel less true and then eliminate and cross them off your list. This technique works relatively quickly but may take days or even weeks for the deepest subconscious beliefs to shift.
If you want to change the way you look, begin by picturing yourself the way you want to be. Create that architectural drawing or blueprint for the Universe to fill with energy and don’t limit the use of mind re-programming affirmations and visualization techniques to weight-loss.
They are empowering tools in our personal armour that we can tap into daily to achieve positive life changes, not just a slim body. They are just as powerful when used for business, financial, relationship, and any other area of our lives where we want to achieve success and experience lasting, positive change.
