How To Overcome Obstacles

If you have ever tried sticking to a diet, a weight loss program, or an eating plan in the past, then you know it is not always easy.  You will encounter obstacles that will frustrate you and tempt you to give up or quit.  How can you overcome these challenges that will inevitably occur?

Anticipate Obstacles

The key is to anticipate obstacles ahead of time.  Think back to the last time you tried to lose weight.  What major obstacles did you encounter?  This answer is different for everyone.  It might be when you work late and are too tired to cook, perhaps eating out is a challenge, or is it traveling?  You know yourself and your past struggles better than anyone.

Many people start a weight loss journey and just hope it will work this time.  This is wishful thinking, and is not being honest with yourself.  You know that obstacles will present themselves.  Count on it and anticipate them.  You know there will be hard days.  You will feel stress, deprivation, and you will want to sabotage yourself.  You will crave sweets and want to eat them.  You will have feelings of doubt and failure, and at some point you will want to quit. 

Treat these obstacles as known challenges on the horizon.  Write down the ones that will be most likely to affect you.  For example, if you have a tendency to order a pizza, takeout, or drive through after a long day at work - what will you do the next time you have a long day at work?  Make a plan and write it down.

With my clients, we work on making several options for when an obstacle appears.  You should have one or two options.  If drive thrus are your weakness, for instance, make a list of what is healthy to order at your favorite drive thru.  Plan B might be a list of what you could quickly buy in the grocery store that is on your food protocol, or an emergency meal in the freezer that you keep on hand.  Keep this written down and store it in your car so you can easily remind yourself of the plan when faced with that obstacle. 

The key is to develop a strategy for your most common weight loss obstacles ahead of time when you are calm and thinking with the rational part of your brain.  That way, when the obstacles appears, the problem is already solved.  Trying to come up with a solution after a hard, stressful day, clouded by emotion will often leave you sabotaging your food protocol. 

What are your most challenging obstacles to weight loss?  If you need help developing strategies to overcome your obstacles, contact me to schedule a free consultation session.