Can an Attitude of Gratitude Affect My Weight?

03 Nov Can an Attitude of Gratitude Affect My Weight?

It’s November, and thoughts naturally turn to the Thanksgiving holiday.  Because our Prolean Wellness clients are working hard to get excess weight off, a food-focused holiday can be a daunting thought.  When we begin to think about the potatoes and pie we’re giving up on Thanksgiving day, our excitement about losing weight may turn to feelings of deprivation.  In order to successfully navigate the next couple of months of holiday food temptations, we’d like to talk to you about how changing the focus of this Thanksgiving season from gorging to gratitude can benefit you both mentally and physically.

Years of experience with thousands of different clients have shown us that those who pursue their weight loss program with a positive attitude just seem to do better than those who slog through their program with reluctance.  We haven’t done a professional study on this, but we can see early on that those who are naturally negative are going to struggle with weight loss more than those who are naturally positive.

But do not fret! If you’re a cup-half-empty type, are you doomed to battle with weight for the rest of your life?  No!  That’s where an Attitude of Gratitude can help you.  Focusing on things that are good in your life will help create a more positive environment and reduce feelings of stress that can hamper your ability to lose weight.  Don’t just take our word for it. A 2003 study , published in the Journal of The American Dietetic Association, found that when using methods to increase their belief in their ability to reach their goals, participants’ eating habits improved–and so did their weight loss!  Along with that, a  2005 Swedish study showed that participants in a cognitive-therapy treatment program that encouraged positive responses not only lost more weight than those who didn’t, but also kept it off.

Prolean Wellness is going to focus on finding the things we’re grateful for this beautiful month of November.  We hope you’ll check out our positive Facebook posts and reply with some of the things you’re grateful for as well throughout the entire month.  If you don’t want to post your gratitude on social media, try creating a gratitude journal.  Each day, write down at least one thing for which you’re grateful. See if this Thanksgiving holiday will mean less about whether you should have some pie and more about the blessings in your life – especially the restored health that comes with weight loss and a healthier lifestyle.