The Exceptional Weight Loss Athlete
Date: 24 July 2009
Tags: diet, healthy diet, habit-changing, behaviour, positive thinking, Weight Loss, success, Exceptional, habit-breaking, Setting goals, champion, athlete, making change happen
Tags: diet, healthy diet, habit-changing, behaviour, positive thinking, Weight Loss, success, Exceptional, habit-breaking, Setting goals, champion, athlete, making change happen
What’s a Weight Loss Athlete?
Athletes can either be good, great or exceptional. The same is true for people who lose weight.
I have trained many athletes and have studied what it is about them that makes some succeed more than others. I have compared the behaviour of good, great and exceptional athletes to those people who are good, great and exceptional at losing weight. I believe that they demonstrate the same qualities in order to achieve what they want. They share the same frame of mind, attitude, habits and outlook.
GOOD
Good athletes, often motivated by fear and pressure, complain and moan – it never seems to be going their way. They may achieve some success but it’s often short-lived and disappointment soon sets in. Despite their failings, good athletes are reluctant to change or take on board new ideas and rarely recognise their own weaknesses. We often see good athletes repeating the same mistakes over and over again without progressing in the right direction – it’s a classic sign that they stick to what they know in the hope that things might work out.
‘Yo yo’ dieter – a typical Good Weight Loss Athlete. They do achieve some success, albeit through gritted teeth, but it’s never an enjoyable experience and they often fall back into the trap of bad habits. People who are good at losing weight are often motivated to start a new diet by seeing a ‘bad’ photo of themselves, or finding their favourite jeans don’t fit. They feel bad about themselves and throw themselves into their new regime. A life of restriction and unhappiness means that they do well temporarily but they soon go back to what they were doing before. Weaknesses are never addressed and negative feelings are comforted by food.
GREAT
Great athletes want to be the best, they want the ultimate success. They focus on this goal and only this goal – it’s all about the end result. They do have talent and winning is enjoyable to them but the process of getting there is not.
People who are great at losing weight are really motivated to achieve their goal, whether it’s being slim for a holiday or losing weight for their wedding. But it’s tough, and once they’ve reached their target it’s easy for them to slip back into old habits. The process is difficult and un-enjoyable. Great Weight Loss Athletes tend to overdo things, from training too hard to eating too little, which has a detrimental effect on how they feel. Once they achieve their goal they often put the weight back on again – not such a bad thing, as they know they can lose it again!
EXCEPTIONAL
The only way to be an exceptional athlete, apart from having great talent, is to love your sport. Having a passion for what you do drives you to do well. It becomes part of you, second nature. Winning is a welcome part of it, but the ‘doing’ is what it’s all about. Exceptional athletes focus on what they do well, what they love doing and, despite some setbacks, will continue to do well.
Exceptional Weight Loss Athletes don’t see adopting a new lifestyle and changing from old unhealthy habits as a hardship. They want to change, they want to do things differently and embrace the process wholeheartedly. They enjoy their new lifestyle, relish the challenge and, most importantly, bounce back from difficulties.
People who are exceptional at losing weight and keeping it off don’t find it a chore, it’s who they are; they’re relaxed about it, it’s become their way of life. They feel good and they enjoy it. Tough triggers, that for others may lead to failure, are nipped in the bud before they have the power to question their success.
* Listen to the pod-cast. Click here to listen
* Watch this short film about the challenge
I'm really excited about this challenge. Using one tool each week will be great for me to continue with my baby steps and encourage me to use some of the tools I've neglected a bit.
WE CAN DO IT!
Bx
I think we are all a bit guilty of skimming the tools from time to time, so to spend a whole week concentrating on 1 tool at a time is a brilliant idea,
roll on Monday,
Sue xxx
And it makes me determined that I will never give up either.
I feel very excited about this new challenge and confident that I will get there.
Bit gushy I know, but thank you so very much.
love Dean xx
While I am in Kefalonia for my daughter's wedding it will make it very straightforward to decide on how to approach the week and that of course is:
EAT SLOWLY!
And swimming for my exercise and staying in the shade lounging reading and chillaxing.
Wish I knew the tool for the second week as it will have begun before I return to England!
Earthmother xxx
Dean you like everyone else is exceptional
Lets do it
Pete
I am looking forward to becoming a MASTER weight loss athelete and actually having a weight loss to show for it BEFORE I go back to work full time in nine weeks time!!!! PERFECT timing for me Pete - perfect! And this time I REALLY feel like I can shift this weight - maybe even get to where I want to be before this challenge is over.
THANK YOU...... Mwah! xx
I am well ready for this new challenge, and I look forward to joining you all on Monday for it.
I was pleased with myself the first half of the summer challenge, but I sturggled on the second half, foodwise.
I've been refining my "eating slowly" skills today - in anticipation of training to be exceptional ! I've never believed that I could be exceptional at anything until now - but I'm going to give this one a go !
Dolly
Love ya loads. BikerB x
I love the idea of just mastering one tool at a time. Mandie took the words right out of my blog, LoL!
Thanks pete, as always you are a complete star
PP xx
This is going to be a great challenge as we master each step.
Take care
Pete
x
Count me in - very much up for the challenge! Thanks Pete!
xxxx
Thanks Pete. xx
I am new to this and came to see you in Bournemouth 2 weeks ago.
This is great. I have already lost 33kgs with the help of my exceptional trainer Dominic. He is amazing and has stuck by me through all my tantrums and life traumas over the last 4 years.
I am now happy and a lot more confident but I still have a way to go yet.
I am sure that with these tools and you and Dominic behind me my goal is well in sight!
Many thanks Pete. Keep up the good work.
Keep doing the best you can
Pete
Joval
Joolz x