Why do we do it?
Why do you think most people try to lose weight? Think about it for a second... Do you think that they want to look better in a bathing suit, with summer fast approaching? Or do you think that they are more concerned about their health? What is their primary motivation?
The Mayo Clinic recently administered a survey called the Diet Mindset Assessment, and you might be able to guess that the results revealed that the majority of the participants were more interested in the health benefits than in looking better. However, would you believe me if I told you that 83% of those who participated were more concerned about the health benefits?
The Diet Mindset Assessment was an anonymous survey that 200,00 Americans participated in. The goal was to gather opinions concerning weight loss. Interestingly, this study was less about the changes that people want to make or have made in the past, but more about their mindset when approaching the concept of weight loss.
Why do we care? Why does that even matter? Motivation matters. When we are primarily motivated by changes in our physical appearance, if the change is slow, then we are more likely to abandon the dietary changes that we have begun to make, before they even have an impact. However, when the motivation for change is a longer term outcome, then we are more likely to be patient and stick with the changes over an extended period of time. The longer we can sustain the changes, the more likely we are to succeed in losing weight. That weight loss is also then more likely to be sustainable.
When making any healthy changes to your life, please look at the impact that they will have on your life over the long term rather than simply focusing on short-term gratification.
Why do you think most people try to lose weight? Think about it for a second... Do you think that they want to look better in a bathing suit, with summer fast approaching? Or do you think that they are more concerned about their health? What is their primary motivation?
The Mayo Clinic recently administered a survey called the Diet Mindset Assessment, and you might be able to guess that the results revealed that the majority of the participants were more interested in the health benefits than in looking better. However, would you believe me if I told you that 83% of those who participated were more concerned about the health benefits?
The Diet Mindset Assessment was an anonymous survey that 200,00 Americans participated in. The goal was to gather opinions concerning weight loss. Interestingly, this study was less about the changes that people want to make or have made in the past, but more about their mindset when approaching the concept of weight loss.
Why do we care? Why does that even matter? Motivation matters. When we are primarily motivated by changes in our physical appearance, if the change is slow, then we are more likely to abandon the dietary changes that we have begun to make, before they even have an impact. However, when the motivation for change is a longer term outcome, then we are more likely to be patient and stick with the changes over an extended period of time. The longer we can sustain the changes, the more likely we are to succeed in losing weight. That weight loss is also then more likely to be sustainable.
When making any healthy changes to your life, please look at the impact that they will have on your life over the long term rather than simply focusing on short-term gratification.
Movement is my medicine,
