Take-Control Diet A Life Plan for Thinking People

CHAPTER 1 THE MENTAL EDGE Most of my life has been defined by my experiences as an avid sportsman, whether it was playing basketball or swinging the golf clubs. I learned at an early age that what happens on the field of athletic competition is often mirrored in our everyday lives. I was first introduced to the powers that the mind had over the body during my teenage years of playing Pop Warner football. Our most important practice of the week would be Friday afternoon, right before the big game on Sunday. Instead of tackling and hitting one another the way we did during the earlier part of the week, we spent most of the Friday practice perfecting our techniques and analyzing our opponent's expected game plan. Our scouting report often gave us an idea of the offensive plays they'd try to run against us, as well as the defensive formations they'd assemble to stop us from advancing the football. Friday practices were less about strength and endurance and more about sharpening the mental aspects of our game. The coaches worked us methodically through Sunday's game plan, accentuating most of their points with catchy slogans meant to key our minds into the task ahead of us as well as our physical skills. Coach Murphy had a saying that I heard so often, I would hear it in my sleep before a big game: "Football isn't all about physical prowess. It's 15 percent skill and 85 percent mental." These percentages would change, of course, depending on who was repeating it, but the intended message was equally receivedif you wanted to succeed on the football field, your muscles and speed wouldn't do you a bit of good if your mind hadn't mastered the game. Losing weight requires a major commitment that not everyone is willing or able to make. Depending on how severe the modifications are that you need to make, the physical investment in changing your diet and increasing your level of physical activity can be nothing short of exhausting. Remember, you'll be asking your body to continuously adapt to a lifestyle that will put many of your body's systems in flux. But regardless of how effective a plan you might be attempting to follow, or how physically prepared you are to climb a few extra flights of stairs a day, if your mind isn't in the game, your efforts are doomed before they even get under way. With the exception of extreme gimmicky diets, much of the science behind weight management programs is the same. Decrease the amount of calories you consume and increase the amount of calories you expend and those billions of fat cells will begin to shrink. Regardless of how fancy the language an author uses or how complicated a formula he or she offers, it's your mind that gives you a major advantage. The beauty of our minds is that they are all different, and the way we process information becomes the individualism of our identity. It would be so much easier if I could prescribe a program that trains your mind to take on the future rigors of a weight loss regimen. The truth, however, is that you must find your own way, one that works for you and makes you feel comfortable. Who knows your mind and body better than you do? I simply offer a few areas of concern and thoughtful advice that you might want to incorporate while developing the winning strategy. MENTAL TOUGHNESS The body fails before the mind, but if the mind is strong enough, it can resuscitate it. dana o. smith Many things we attempt in life have attached to them a set of prerequisites. If you're applying for a particular job, the company will list the work and educational experience requirements. This same idea of pre-requisites transfers to the task of losing weight and making lifestyle changes that will last forever. At the top of the list is a requirement that beSmith, Ian K. is the author of 'Take-Control Diet A Life Plan for Thinking People', published 2002 under ISBN 9780375507304 and ISBN 0375507302.