Positive mental visualization
 

I'm trying to mentally "see" myself the way I want to be, and I've found it to be very helpful in keeping myself on track. Being a guy, I imagine myself with a flat stomach (a six-pack even!) and wearing size 30 waist pants again (not since 1988, I think). And being able to wear a tight T-shirt without a protruding gut. How sweet would that be. So I keep these images in my head, particularly when I'm tempted to binge. Ya gotta play mind-games sometimes to hit your target. I don't know if others also picture themselves in this way.

Whatever works! Personally I have the most awesome dress that is so "me" that I'll have to be well under 200 pounds to wear it as continual motivation. Probably I'll need to be near goal. I have it hanging in an area that I pass through every day. If I were single it would go on the fridge door but that's begging for disaster. I should post my last bad A1C but that's in my head spurring me to do better for myself.

I don't visualise myself in the future, but I do know that sometimes when I lift up my shirt I expect to see myself how I was before I lost weight, with a big fat gut and it scares the heck out of me, because I never want to see that again!

Positive visualization is a powerful tool for motivation. It is one of the tools for healthy living in the WW program. In 12 step programs there is something similar which may help you as well Tricon, they say "act as if" meaning if you act as if you are not addicted to overeating or some other unhealthy behavior eventually the way you act will be the way you live. And by you I mean the general you, not you personally.

Also, I think there's a common phrase "fake it til you make it" which can mean the same thing. As long as these are healthy behaviors and don't become obsessive, they are great tools.

Thanks again for the reminder to visualize myself at goal healthy and happy! :sunny:

When I was losing my 50 pounds, I would visualize the scale with the next lower down number.

Huffington Post had an interesting article a few days ago by William Anderson I believe on 'faith' and weight loss. Not the religious kind of faith BTW. Similar to this thread.

And I found the link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/willia...b_3920890.html


What I've been visualizing has been running fast through a wooded trail. I am sure I am lighter but mostly the sense of being able to run faster, freer, and longer than I can now.