Can You Think Your Way Thin?

Did you know you can lose weight online, and access the CalorieKing.com.au Program (13 weeks of practical information on all aspects of weight control)? Learn more

Read more :

• Benefits of Using Your Imagination
• How Can You Use Your Imagination?
• Ideas for Goals to Imagine

Benefits of Using Your Imagination

Many sports psychologists and sportspeople know the benefits of using their imagination to improve sporting performance. Arnold Schwarzenegger used his imagination to help him win the Mr Universe bodybuilding competition. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has written about the power of using his imagination to improve his golf swing. As a child, Tiger Woods imagined himself as a great golfer.

So, your imagination can help you play sport better, but can it help you with weight control?

The answer is yes. Using your imagination can:

• Help empower you to achieve your goals. By regularly imagining the end result, you train your brain to believe that you can achieve your weight control dreams.

• Help you solve problems. When you imagine having a solution to a problem, it can help you find ways to get to the answer.

How Can You Use Your Imagination?

Wondering how to imagine your goals? Try these tips and after a few weeks see how your thoughts, feelings and behaviour have improved.

• Imagine your goals throughout the day. Imagine having achieved your goals many times during the day. The more times you imagine what you want, the better. Great times to imagine include while you meditate, daydream, drift-off to sleep and wake-up in the morning.
  

• Think positive, feel positive! While you imagine the outcomes that you desire, think of positive words and emotions that are linked to having achieved your goals. Ideas include people praising you, and feeling proud of yourself for your success. Remember, if you often think positive thoughts about exercise and healthy food throughout the day, you're more likely to be successful at weight control than if you constantly think negative thoughts about these things.

• Set SMART goals. SMART stands for sensible, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. Time-bound means setting a date for when you want to achieve your goal.

• Set meaningful and worthwhile goals. What inspires you? Perhaps it’s achieving or maintaining a healthy weight or losing a few kilos. Something as simple as eating two more pieces of fruit every day within the next month could also be a goal, or walking the dog five times a week instead of twice a week.

 

Ideas for Goals to Imagine

Need some ideas for what to imagine? Choose some pointers from the list below or make-up your own.

• Feeling content and happy while eating a plate of fresh, healthy salad, pasta or whatever other healthy food you think you should eat more of. Imagine that you love the sight and smell of all the various ingredients. Enjoy every single bite you eat.
• Standing in front of a mirror fitting into the clothes you would like to wear, while feeling proud and happy about your weight-loss success.
• Enjoying an exercise that appeals to you, such as dancing with a group of friends in a dancing class, walking in a walking group or playing soccer. Imagine whatever makes exercise fun and interesting for you. Laugh and sing while you work-out! Turn-up the music and boogie!

So if weight control is your goal, use your imagination, along with improving your eating and exercise habits, to increase your chance of success! Einstein knew the importance of using your imagination when he said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Put it to the test!

References :

This article was compiled in consultation with CalorieKing.com.au experts and in reference to the following sources:

Richard Webster, Creative Visualization for Beginners (2006), Llewellyn Publications, Minnesota

Last updated: June 13th, 2008