Making a permanent shift with your weight requires a completely different mindset than losing weight to fit into an outfit. The first question to ask yourself is: Are you willing to make a permanent shift or a temporary change?

A permanent shift is motivated by your overall desire to be healthy; it serves your best interest. Goals like preventing diabetics, heart disease, lowering your cholesterol or blood pressure are good example of increasing your overall health. Or maybe you want to have more energy and vitality. When you focus on your health you are mentally prepared for a major change for the right reasons, realizing that it will take a while before you see the fruits of your labor. The side benefit to this shift is that you will more than likely lose weight.

A temporary shift is motivated by a superficial reason, such as fitting into an outfit for a party. It only requires an inconvenience in your eating pattern until the weight leaves and the event is over. If this inconvenience is painful for you then it is only a matter of time before you return to your old eating pattern. This will result in weight gain and disappointment. Many popular diet programs are based on this being the driver for clients to engage in their services. They are well aware of the

To make a long lasting change, you will need an overall goal of health which should be measurable. Defining health with specific milestones such as your body fat percentage will not exceed 28, or your cholesterol will be under 205, etc. By changing your focus, your mindset will change and you will be willing to make the shifts necessary to reach your results. A year from now you will more than likely fit into that great outfit, while you have been lowering your cholesterol and body fat.

Decide today to create some goals to support a healthy lifestyle. Define what milestones you will strive for, be specific. Plan on making a lifestyle change, such as replacing soda pop with a sugar free beverage. Prepare mentally to stick to this change permanently, then don’t look back.

Rosa Smith-Montanaro is the CEO of http://www.MindOverPlatter.com a virtual weight loss and wellness community. She is the author of the book Mind Over Platter® and the recipient of Best of the Web’s 2004 eBusiness Executive of the Year. Rosa speaks nationally about the power of the mind and how to use it to create a healthier, happier and harmonious life. She can be reached at MindOverPlatter@aol.com

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