5 Limiting Beliefs That Prevent Weight Loss

Here in the United States, weight loss is a major concern.  While we have a very strict standard of beauty that praises people who are thin (or even underweight), the majority of Americans are actually overweight.  Why do so many of us struggle to lose or maintain weight loss?

Of course, my theory on this issue has to do with the Law of Attraction.   

Culturally, we have decided that we want to be thin.  However, “wanting” almost always creates resistance between a person and his or her goals.  This is because when we want something, we are usually focused on how we don’t have it. 

Related Member Video: How to Lose Weight With the Law of Attraction (37 min)

When we focus on what we don’t have, we create limiting beliefs (i.e., excuses) as to why we don’t have it. These beliefs and excuses, in turn, make it even harder for us to get what we want because the Law of Attraction manifests our expectations and beliefs.  

In other words, we get what we expect.  Limiting beliefs literally turn into our actual realities.  It’s a vicious cycle we often find ourselves trapped in.

So, because of our strong, cultural desire to be thin, we have collectively created a number of  limiting beliefs that make it challenging for us to slim down.  As a result, keeping the pounds off has become a real challenge for many of us.

Here are a few of the common limiting beliefs we have that prevent weight loss: 

1. “Losing weight is hard.”

We get what we believe with the Law of Attraction.   So, if we believe losing weight is going to be a challenge-it will be! This is a very strong reason why many people struggle to take off the pounds, and why many give up before they get down to their goal weight.

2. “Some foods are fattening.”

I see this time and again with people I know who are dieting and trying to lose weight. People honestly believe that in order to lose weight they can’t eat foods that contain fat or sugar in them, like cookies or hamburgers.

When you hold this limiting belief, the Law of Attraction brings you a reality in which weight loss is dependent on the kinds of foods you are eating.

Therefore, in order to slim down, you won’t be able to eat hardly any “‘fattening foods”  like ice cream, french fries or pizza.  When you believe these kinds of food cause weight gain, you will very likely pack on the pounds when you indulge in them.

As a result, in order to lose weight or maintain weight loss you will have to maintain a very strict diet in order to lose weight.  If you aren’t interested in cutting certain foods out of your diet, this can make the weight loss process a real downer.

3. “You have to work out in order to lose weight.”

First off, there’s nothing wrong with working out. Many people do it, and many people reap positive benefits from doing it. 

However, if you hold this particular belief, you will become a slave to your workout routine if you want to lose weight or maintain weight loss.  This can become problematic over time.

When we feel like we “have to” work out, it becomes just another thing on our to-do list, and it starts to feel like a chore. 

While we may have the motivation to begin a workout plan, after a while we just might not feel like doing this chore any longer.  As time passes, we might lose the motivation to stick with it.  We are also very likely to lose the motivation to pick back up our routine after we take a break due to illness, injury or vacation.  

This is why so many of us “fall off of the wagon” with working out.

And then, what happens? 

We gain weight again, and all of that work we did goes down the drain.  Ugh! 

4. “People gain weight when they get older/go to college/have a baby/etc.”

Many Americans have simply come to expect that they will naturally gain weight if they go to college, get married, or have kids.  As a result, many people experience the “freshman 15,” or struggle to lose the “baby weight.”

5. “Some people are naturally thin, and others aren’t.”

When we carry this limiting belief, we tell ourselves our weight is outside of our control, and that fate has decided how much we will weigh.

This is a problem because if you’ve decided you aren’t “naturally thin,” then you must defy nature in order to lose weight!  How are you supposed to slim down if it’s already been decided that you are supposed to be overweight?

So, how do we let go of these limiting beliefs?

If you feel like you are holding on to any of the above limiting beliefs, here’s a quick idea on how to start to turn them around:

Get a notebook or journal, and start to compile evidence that the above stereotypes are not always true. 

What you focus on you create more of, so start to focus on the times when these limiting beliefs fall flat.  As you find evidence that challenges these beliefs, the Law of Attraction will bring you even more evidence that challenges these beliefs.  

Over time, you will generate enough evidence against these beliefs that it will become impossible for you to really believe them anymore. 

Below are a few ways to look for evidence against the limiting beliefs in this article: 

1. For the belief that losing weight is hard:

In your journal, keep tabs on times when you’ve lost weight without any effort at all. Whenever the scale tips down a pound or two for no apparent reason, write it down.

Another thing you can keep track of are examples of people you know who have seemingly lost weight without trying.  If you know of a friend who’s dropped a few pounds but she doesn’t seem to be dieting or doing anything specific, write down her story in your journal.

2. For the belief that some foods are fattening:

To adjust this limiting belief, you can find evidence of people you know who are able to eat “fattening” or “sugary” foods and still stay trim.

You can also keep track of times where you have eaten something “bad” and kept the pounds off.  For example, perhaps you have a slice of cake after dinner, but the next day your weight stayed the same. 

The more of these examples you find and write down, the more of these kinds of examples will be brought to you with the Law of Attraction.  As a result, you will begin to drop this limiting belief and will find that you are able to indulge more frequently without gaining weight.

Related Member Video: Can I Eat Whatever I Want With the LOA? (30 min)

3. For the belief that you have to work out in order to lose weight:

Keep a running log of people you have met who have stayed thin or lost weight without working out. 

Also, if you’d like to drop this belief but you still want to continue to work out, you may also want to write down reasons why you enjoy exercise.

Focusing on the enjoyment you get from exercise will help to bring more benefits from exercise into your life, and will help to reduce any negative associations built up between exercise and weight.

4. For the belief that people gain weight when they get older/go to college/have a baby/etc:

Write down examples of new moms you’ve known who have stayed trim, young college students who have avoided gaining weight and anyone who’s grown older and kept the pounds off.

5. For the belief that some people are naturally thin, and others aren’t:

Look for people you’ve known with body types that have changed over the years.

For instance, we all know a couple of kids who were overweight in school and then suddenly thinned down over one summer.  We all also know of a few people who have gotten into shape after years of struggling with obesity. 

We all have even seen our own bodies change across time, and some years have been thinner than others.

As you move forward, keep your journal active and try to add to it as often as you can.  The more frequently you can focus on evidence that challenges your limiting beliefs, the quicker these beliefs will be eliminated, and the easier it will become to lose weight and maintain weight loss.

So, what are your thoughts about these limiting beliefs that prevent weight loss?  Do you identify with any of these beliefs, or have you ever overcome any of them in your own life?  Comment below and share your story!

XO, Andrea

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