Have you ever wondered why some people are more successful on their health journey than others?
There are several factors like consistency, discipline, and so on, but the biggest factor is mindset.
Most of the clients I work with from a health and wellness perspective want to lose weight and retain lean muscle. This makes sense since most Americans are on this mission: about 50% report weight loss as a priority.
One of the first things I tell my health coaching clients is if you treat this journey like a diet you will get diet results. Diets are short-term, have a start and stop point and are restrictive.
Diet, to me, is what we consume – our nutritional intake. Not the mindset, philosophy or structure with how we reach our health goals.
Alternatively, lifestyle focuses on long-term, sustainable changes that span more than just what we eat. It encompasses stress management, sleep, physical activity, hydration, environment and more. It is big picture and typically focuses less on restriction and more on restraint – submission to change for long-term gain.
Let’s Frame Some Diet vs Lifestyle Change Situations:
Diet: I am going out of town so I will recommit to my goals when I get home.
Lifestyle: I am going to make better choices from the options available to me while traveling.
Diet: I have seen some progress (inches lost, pounds lost, clothes fit better), so I am going to shift my priorities and focus on other things in my life.
Lifestyle: I have seen some progress and now I am inspired to get to the next level. I know I can push through challenges to create results when I make my health a priority.
Diet: I want quick weight loss at any cost. Shots, pills, starvation – I want to be skinny!
Lifestyle: I am ready to commit to consistency, healthier habits, and mindset work – and I am confident results will follow. For me it’s about being healthy, not about being skinny.
So How Do You Switch From A Diet Mindset To A Lifestyle Mindset?
1. Use Different Data Points
The scale is great to measure total mass over time and to watch for a downward progression BUT it is not the end all be all. Use different measurables to monitor your progress – photos, measurements, body fat percentage, doctor visits and results from blood panels.
2. Take A Big Picture Approach
Nutrition is incredibly important for any weight loss journey, but so many other factors impact weight loss. Taking an accurate assessment of your current habits with factors like stress, sleep, and physical activity can give you insight into your baseline which will help you develop new goals for better habits which create a healthier lifestyle.
3. Do Mindset Work
I cannot stress enough how important it is to do daily work on your mindset. We are bombarded with so many signals, beeps, dings and distractions on a daily basis – learning how to focus, how to be present, and how to separate thoughts and feelings from actions is an incredible important and impactful part of any health journey.
Now, Be Honest With Yourself And Evaluate Your Current Mindset.
Do you have a diet mentality or a lifestyle mindset? There is no right or wrong answer – just opportunity to learn, grow, and become the best version of YOU as you work toward health goals and create a healthier life.
