How Environment Stunts Weight Loss

When embarking upon a weight loss journey, it is important that we supply ourselves with all of the tools and tactics we can gather for the road ahead. This will help us reach our destination in the least amount of time -- and with the least amount of effort!

One powerful tactic that I have used in all of my transformations is the re-creation of the environment.

Why change our environment?

Humans are creatures of habit. We gravitate toward safe, familiar surroundings and tend to follow similar patterns, day in and day out. This is engrained in our mind and necessary for our survival! Ultimately, when we are looking to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle, it requires a change in our daily patterns.

Research has shown that most people are able to make a permanent change in their daily behavioral patterns when there is some abrupt change in their "life story" -- whether moving to a new home, changing jobs, changing relationships, etc. This turbulence, as it upsets the normal daily pattern, helps "reset" our minds and puts us in a good place to adopt new patterns!

The best thing you can do is to create some turbulence in your surroundings to reset your mind and to adopt a new lifestyle. By changing your environment and creating a "safe haven" around you, you will combat the old triggers that came so naturally before. Here's a few tips for creating your own environment for success:

1. Clean out your kitchen; your fridge, pantry, cupboards, everything. Move to the bedroom and clean out ALL hiding spots for food. Same with the workplace. Throw all junk foods away. If they are in your immediate environment, they will sabotage your success. Get 'em gone! Don't worry, you can still enjoy the foods you crave, but it is important that they are enjoyed in moderation -- outside of your "safe haven."

2. Rearrange the furniture in your living room and bedroom. These are usually two big trigger hotspots. Move the couch to the other wall. Put the TV stand across from the new couch location. In your bedroom, move your bed to another wall. Place your alarm clock on the other dresser, so that when you roll over to hit snooze in the morning, it isn't there. Instead, it is beeping at your from the other side, or even better ... across the room where you have to walk to it. Immediately, you are quickly reminded of the new you.

3. Pictures, Pictures, Pictures. What motivates you? Having the body of your dreams? Getting in shape to play with your kids? Whatever it is, place pictures of your motivation all around you. On the bathroom mirror, on the fridge, IN the fridge, in the office, on the dashboard of your car ... wherever. These images will constantly remind you why you are embracing a new lifestyle!

4. Hit all of your senses -- even your nose. Use potpourri, incense or any other scents to bring a new smell to your house. Avoid scents that stimulate the appetite, like sweet smells.

It is time to reset those unhealthy lifestyle patterns. Change things up and create you very own environment for success.

I believe in you,
Chris

 

Comments

[Maria Kovacs]

09:39 AM on 07/29/2011

All great ideas, especially the pictures part.I got engaged in June and have placed more pictures of my fiancee and I around our new home. The wedding next year, and the fact that we want children so badly is going to be my motivation to stay on track!

Thanks for this great article!

[William Anderson LMHC]

11:12 AM on 07/21/2011

Some good ideas here. Behavioral Medicine classifies these issues as things like stimulus control, cognitive therapy, Therapeutic Psychogenics and cybernetic self-management, and it can help a person a create a whole new environment and set of routines to make weight control relatively easy and permanent. Having a 'safe house' is one of the most important. You are on the right track here, though I still find many of the things I seen you engage in to be counterproductive. Keep learning and improving!

William Anderson, LMHC
Author of 'The Anderson Method - Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss'
Blog: http://theandersonmethodblog.wordpress.com/

[veritas88]

01:07 AM on 07/20/2011

I've heard that people are less likely to over-eat in rooms painted blue or that have a lot of blue tones in them. I wonder if there's any truth to this.

[Mary Poe]

10:01 PM on 07/19/2011

Chris,

I truly enjoy watching you and your clients on Extreme Makeover. You are so motivating and a classy person!

[babybelle]

07:37 AM on 07/19/2011

5. Do one of these everyday to burn more fat:

Take a very cold shower
Sit in a bathtub filled with ice.
Wear a cold neck/shoulder wrap.

[Wydell Conley]

09:39 PM on 07/18/2011

Chris,

Your observation is so true. We must get out of our comfort zone in order to change.

Wydell - http://tinyurl.com/63kxgw4

[rawfoodsphd]

08:02 PM on 07/18/2011

What great advice, Chris! As a specialist in subconscious dynamics I agree that the only way get to a healthy weight and stay there is by adopting a new lifestyle, as opposed to dieting. The anthropologist, Margaret Mead said that "it's easier to change a man's religion than the way he eats." That's a pretty powerful statement considering the state of the world. So, a radical change is necessary to make it stick. I do feel that getting the subconscious to ally with the "new you" is important and hypnotherapy is really helpful. www.rawfusionliving.com

[lee4713]

04:09 PM on 07/18/2011

A few years ago I would have laughed at this. Now I think there is definitely truth here. It's also got to do with clearing out clutter. Hmm, lots I need to get done in the next few months . . .

[coachdrs]

01:37 PM on 07/18/2011

Lifestyle change is the only solution at long-term weight loss. If you make any change a part of your life then you can expect long-term results.