Hitch Fit Living Magazine Volume 3 - November/December 2015 | Page 39

The physical changes and health benefits that occur throughout a successful body
transformation are obvious. The weight loss, increased muscle mass and a ton of happy
smiles. You get a shot at a healthier lifestyle and decreased risk of many diseases.
What about the psychological and emotional side of a transformation though? Most people
forget that the biggest part of the transformation takes place in the mind. If the mind
doesn’t transform, the likelihood of the results lasting a lifetime is very low. For a lot of
people the physical transformation is the easy part. It is the emotional and psychological
aspects that sometimes cause problems and hinder or halt progress.
A mental shift must take place during transformation. Studies show that posttransformation people feel better, have greater self-esteem, body image and quality of life.
But those effects can diminish if the psychological transformation didn’t occur as well. Red
flag warning signs that a mental transformation needs to take place are as follows: you
think transformation habits are short term, and eating healthy is a “diet”, so you revert
back to old eating habits soon after achieving results; you view healthy eating as a sacrifice
rather than a privilege; you still aren’t happy with your body even after a remarkable
transformation has occurred, always nit picking and finding something “wrong”. If these
mental challenges aren’t tackled and overcome, then it’s easy to fall back into old habits and
undo all the hard work that has been achieved.
With all of that being said here are some creative ways to tackle with these emotional and
psychological road blocks as they appear. These are issues that the majority of people deal
with, so you are not alone!
1. Create Self-Assurance: Using a journal is a way to get your thoughts on paper. You
can use this to record any self-realizations, meaning any stumbling blocks, self-doubt,
accomplishments, and motivational ideas. Reflect on your past health and fitness
experiences that are relevant to your current health endeavor (previous weight loss
attempts, disordered eating, etc.) as well as your day-to-day journey and experiences.