Mind Games

I can't believe how many people still stop me to ask how I got skinny.


The easy answer?


Eat healthy and exercise.


Do people really want to hear that?


Um, no. They don't.


You can actually see the disappointment on their faces.


Yet, that is what I did. I went from this -
















To sorta kinda like this -




In less than a year.


By eating healthy and exercising.


Because I was focused. Very, very focused.


It's mind over matter in this weight loss struggle that you're in.

Half the battle is in your head.


Here are a few of the mind games I played with myself to keep my head in the weight loss war.


First I made myself a Motivation Poster. I cut out pictures of skinny chicks in bikinis, pictures of hotties in super cute jeans, pictures of myself skinny, and pictures of myself as a fattie. I pinned it to the wall right next to my elliptical. So that whenever I felt like giving up halfway through my workout I would look up at those super cute jeans on my poster and force myself to finish exercising.


I also posted a few extra bikini pics in the kitchen. One on the fridge, on the snack cupboard.... that way whenever I went into the kitchen I was reminded what my goal was. Sure, a few of my husbands friends thought it was odd that there were pictures of bikini clad girls all over the house.... but it worked for me! (And I'm sure it didn't bother them all that much.)


Then I bought myself some Motivational Jeans. I would wait until there were some cute ones on sale and then I would buy them 2 sizes smaller than what I was currently wearing. I would hang them at the very front of my closet where I would see them everyday. When the day came that those jeans actually fit......euphoric. And then when those jeans would actually get to where they were to big, A-mazing. There's no better motivation for me than buying new jeans.


When I overhauled my life I didn't have a blog. I didn't have a Twitter account either. All I had was my Facebook page and my MySpace page. Every morning I would update my status with "I'm going to workout today!", or "I'm going to make this super yummy healthy breakfast today!", or some other crap about being healthy and exercising. Just the simple fact of telling everyone I knew that I was going to workout, that I was going to eat healthy, that I had a goal of losing weight, kept me on the straight and narrow. If I told all my friends and family that I was going to workout, well then I better go workout! I didn't want to be a liar. I created my own Peer Pressure, and it worked!


Another tactic that I used against my ever struggling willpower - Keep in mind just how long you will have to workout to work off that piece of cake, or slice of pizza, or candy bar. Is the pizza really worth an extra 20 to 30 minutes on the elliptical? If it is - go for it! If not, maybe Lean Cuisine will have a better option for you. I know a lot of people don't like this 'game' of working out longer because you ate something full of fat and calories. You know who they are? People who are already skinny that's who. I like keeping track, that way I know exactly how long I need to workout and there are no surprises.


I hope some of these tips will work for you! It sure won't hurt to try!


Here's a link to a post I wrote awhile back with some other helpful tips.


Do you have any mind games that have been working for you? Please let me know in the comments! I look forward to learning what you guys have been doing.


~Stephanie at The Blue Zoo~

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have pictures around of skinny chics but I also have my hubs. If I want to eat something bad he'll say OK fatty, just keep eating that and you'll always be fat.
I know it sounds mean but that's the way we are and it always makes me think twice. I don't want to be a fatty anymore.

Unknown said...

cool post
:D
I think that I need to make myself some motivational poster or something

hayleycreates said...

wicked post. Some really good tips.It would be nice if there was a magic pill, but since there is not it has to be all about effort.
You're very inspiring.

Angelia said...

Thank you for this! I know all these things, but I need to be reminded often that you have to be focused. My friend and I tell each other "Skinny feels better than food tastes" all the time!

Cassie said...

My SIL called the other day and said, "Your grandmother told me you lost 15 lbs. How did you do it?" My reply: I've been working my ass off. I know that's not what she wanted to hear, but it's the truth!

~Amie~ said...

Love the jeans idea! I get the same reaction when people ask what I've been doing, and I say eating healthy and working out. So simple, but not necessarily easy. I love your tips :)

gayle said...

Great ideas!! Thanks!!

Unknown said...

Hilarious- and true. No one wants to hear "Ummm, I don't eat Big Macs or finish my kids happy meal just because it's there". Staying fit is something that has to be worked at- people don't stay in shape because they are "lucky"- it's becuase they work their asses off, eh! Anyway, great post- I'm glad I stumbled over here. Thanks.

Unknown said...

thanks for the comment :D

Unknown said...

I have a book with pictures of my ideal body shape and in that same book I enter lost of motivational sayings. But in the end, exercising is the only thing that is working well for me.

I like the skinny jeans idea and will have to get some to hang as a daily reminder.

Unknown said...

hmmmm a motivational poster, eh?? Ok...I'm on it!!

Metroknow said...

Great ideas! I need to get better about the "photos of myself" thing - since I've been systematically avoiding photos of myself for years, this one is tougher. But ultimately a great idea.

I actually did the pants size a little too small thing last month, and it really worked. Now after having lost 19 lbs so far this year, I LOVE wearing those pants right now. And I think it's time to get another pair - another size too small.

Thanks for the inspiration!

jules said...

These are wonderful tricks! I too go through spurts of scantily clad fit ladies on my mirrors and such for motivation.

MommyLisa said...

Good tricks. I totally agree that you have to eat healthy and excercise.

When I see someone who gets skinny just not eating...they always end up with food issues and then gain the weight back.

Pills. Same.

Diet and Excercise? I kept my wieght off AWESOMELY doing that, then totally forgot how to eat when pregnant(40 weeks) and breastfeeding (22 months!) plus, I did not TAKE the time to work-out.

I am once again on the slow and steady trip back down to a good weight for me. This time I will stay there...my daughter is too much fun to chase after for it not to work!

Momma Fargo said...

Found you on Ed's Funny Pages. Now following you.

A Mother's Thoughts said...

Good for you for maintaining health!! Way to go salad, yeah, "bigger people" are just waiting for that one special person to say.."I lost all this weight when I bought a special chair to watch TV." Oh, how I wish! lol

Lynn

ThingsToDoWithKids said...

I love the poster Idea. I think I'll have to try that. My "trick" is that I loooove Jillian Michaels, so I use that to my advantage. When I'm working out, and I want to stop I imagine her standing over me (much like on the show) and picture what she'd have to say about that. If the people on the show, who are much heavier then I can do it, then damn it, so can I.

Just A Normal Mom said...

When I'm craving something bad, I always tell myself that whatever it is will still be there, for a moderate serving, when I reach my goal. It will still be there. It will still taste the same.

My other mind game is to really research what is IN the food I'm eating. When you really know, it suddenly doesn't sound as appetizing. :-)

Great tips!!!
***Ally

WendyB said...

*applause* -- good for you!

I manage to keep my weight under control because I like to keep my clothes for 10-20 years...God forbid I grew out of anything! It's all about the wardrobe for me.

Kelly and Sara said...

That's awesome! Love the tips :)

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