Unlock The Secret to Lasting Weight Loss: Eat More, Not Less
@thatsherbusiness
How You Talk To Yourself Matters: The Power of Language and Weight Loss
The language we use is powerful. The words we say influence our thoughts, our behaviours, and ultimately, the results we achieve. The words we tell ourselves about food and health can have a deep impact, especially when it comes to weight loss. When we talk negatively about our bodies or our diets it can make it much harder to take positive steps. Think about all the times you’ve jokingly said, “I can’t remember the last time I ate salad". Seems meaningless, but if you keep saying it, next time you’re making a choice between a healthy salad and an unhealthier choice, it will be harder for you to make the healthy choice. Why? Because the more you tell yourself something, the more likely you are to believe it.
Common Weight Loss Myths and the Impact of Negative Language
One of the most common weight loss myths is that to lose weight, you’re gonna have to give up the all the foods you love and only eat things you don’t enjoy. You might have done this, telling yourself that you "can't" eat certain foods because you’re on a diet, they’re unhealthy or will make you put weight on. It’s not that simple - chocolate alone isn’t the reason you put on weight.
The problem with using the word "can’t" is that it creates a scarcity mindset around food. What does this mean? When you focus on restriction - all the foods you can’t have - it’s super easy to get hung up on all the foods you’ve labelled as “bad.” This can cause you to feel guilty or shameful for eating those “bad” foods, and it’s this falling off the wagon that can completely derail your weight loss efforts. The way we think about food can be just as important as the food itself.
Moving to an Abundance Mindset for Weight Loss Success
If you want weight loss that lasts, a better approach is to work on creating an abundance mindset around food. Not necessarily easy, but if you can master this mindset, you will enjoy your food so much more. An abundance mindset means recognising that improving your health doesn’t mean cutting out all the foods you love—it’s about adding more nutritious, colourful foods to your diet. By focusing on the wide variety of delicious, nutrient-dense foods that are available, you can enjoy eating while also supporting your health and weight loss goals. Which, let’s face, is what we all want, right?
Nutrient-dense foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, eggs, oily fish, and beans. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, all of which can help with energy levels, metabolism, and even sleep. By adding more of these foods in your diet, you'll not only feel better but it will also support weight loss that last in the long-term.
How I Adopted an Abundance Mindset Through Veganism
Years ago, I decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle, even though before that I used to ask myself, “What on earth do vegans eat?”. And, it was a hell of a challenge being in vegan in France, let me tell you. I had two choices, I could focus on what I would have to give up, like cheese and eggs, staples in my diet at the time or I could embrace the opportunity to get creative and add more colour to my meals. By focusing on abundance and thinking more about what vibrant, delicious plant-based foods I could eat, my diet became more interesting and diverse. Even though I am no longer vegan, my meals are now more colourful and nutritious than ever because of this.
Practical Tips for Adopting an Abundance Mindset
The language you use, the way you talk to yourself, the approach you take to health. It all matters. Adopting an abundance mindset can change your whole outlook. Ready to try this approach? Here are three simple and practical tips to get you started this week:
1. Take the Rainbow Challenge
An easy way to increase the fruits and vegetables in your diet is by aiming to eat the rainbow. Try to include at least one food from each colour group (red, orange, yellow, green, blue/purple, and white) in your meals every day. If you’re already doing this, challenge yourself to include two foods from each group. This helps ensure you're getting a wide range of vitamins and minerals in your diet. A rainbow chart can be a fun way to track your progress-click here for a downloadable version I’ve created just for you.
2. Try One New Vegetable Each Week
When out food shopping, challenge yourself to pick up a vegetable you’ve never tried before, or one you haven’t eaten in a while. Try out new recipes and create meals around this new vegetable. Stepping out of your comfort zone just a little bit will keep your meals exciting and could help you discover new, nutritious favourite foods.
3. Add Extra Vegetables to Your Meals
Sneak extra vegetables into your regular meals. For example, add grated carrots or chopped celery to spaghetti Bolognese, or mix spinach into curries and chilis. These small additions increase the nutrient content without drastically changing the taste or texture.
Monitor Your Progress: Focus on How You Feel
Once you start to approach your weight loss in this way, stop and notice how you feel. Ask yourself these questions:
Do I have more energy?
Am I sleeping better?
Do I feel healthier overall?
When you focus on the positive changes that come from eating well, it helps you to stay on track with your healthy habits and can make weight loss more enjoyable and sustainable.
By adopting an abundance mindset and focusing on what you can eat rather than what you "can’t," you'll find that weight loss and improving your health can be a positive and empowering experience. So, ditch the restrictive mindset, start including more nutrient-dense foods, and see how much better you feel as a result.
I hope these tips inspire you to adopt a more positive approach to weight loss through an abundance mindset. Which of the three suggestions will you try first? Let me know in the comments!