Willpower is a popular word in the weight-loss scene. You’ll often hear it tossed around in discussions about exercise and nutrition, as it’s common knowledge that committing to a healthy food and exercise routine plays an important role in weight management. No matter what your goals for better health may be, consistency and willpower are crucial pieces to the puzzle. But just how much of our success likes in willpower alone?
Willpower: Not the Only Factor
The weight management journey is by no means simple! It is a complex emotional and physical process that is affected by many things, including:
- Stress – Due to worrying about weight, health, finances, relationships, work, etc.
- Illness – Affected by weight, disease, genetics and other sources
- Hunger – Affected by weight-loss or disease
- Sleep – Affected by exercise, diet, weight (sleep apnea) and stress, and contributes to daily performance
- Emotions – Influenced by frustration, worry, guilt, and being stigmatized by others because of your weight
By adding each of these factors into the equation, it becomes easier to see how willpower is not the “end-all, be-all” solution to weight-loss. In fact, these other factors can go as far as to affect our ability to make the healthiest decisions for our bodies. When we experience these barriers to health, our storage of willpower is often depleted. No wonder we feel so bad about ourselves if we struggle to control it! So, how can we stop this from happening?
Tips for Replenishing Willpower:
You can rest at ease – there ARE ways to restore your willpower and invite positive messages into your journey that will only help you to keep moving in the forward direction. Try some of these suggestions:
- First, minimize stress – Eliminate stress as much as you can by finding proactive ways to manage it or by reducing the factors which bring it on.
- Set short-term goals – By setting goals you can achieve in the near future, you’ll boost your self-confidence and gain the energy needed to accomplish each next step.
- Set concrete goals – Establishing permanent and bigger goals will give your actions a much greater purpose. You might feel more determined, more focused and clear-headed.
- Utilize smart decision-making – Make important decisions when you are fresh, alert and centered. Avoid making any kind of decision, especially for your health, when you are stressed, hungry, tired or mentally overworked.
Want to learn more about willpower and its role in the weight management journey? You can read the full article from Your Weight Matters Magazine by CLICKING HERE.
