I have a question for you …
What do YOU believe about weight loss?
I ask, because new research clearly shows a link between what you believe and your weight loss results.
It’s a fascinating study. One that proves our minds and bodies are inextricably linked.
We’ve all known at some level that our minds and bodies are linked.
But now science is showing us that it’s in fact true.
And in the context of building a better body, what you believe about weight loss, will be true for you.
The study, published in the journal Psychological Science, surveyed over 1,000 people to see what they believed about weight loss.
The researchers then measured the participants’ height and weight, in order to calculate their BMI.
This allowed them to see if there was a link between BMI numbers and what participants believed about what it takes to lose weight.
Finally, what made the setup of this research even more interesting is that the people surveyed lived all across the globe.
Researchers found that folks who believe that exercise was the best way to stay at a healthy weight, had a higher BMI than those who believed that eating right was the way to stay lean and healthy. [1]
They then took this a step further and tried an experiment.
In two separate studies the researchers gave participants an unlimited amount of chocolate.
Those who believed that exercise was the key to maintaining weight ate MORE chocolate than those who believe controlling what you eat, is the key to weight loss success.
Bottom line: What you believe about diet and exercise directly affects your results.
It makes sense.
If you think you can exercise off that donut you ate in the morning, you’ll be more likely to eat it. You’ll just tell yourself, “Oh, I’ll work it off later this afternoon.”
On the other hand, if you know that diet is your number one priority, you won’t eat that donut in the first place.
Brent McFerran, PhD – the study’s co-author – puts it this way:
“Our beliefs guide our actions …Think about it: If you think exercise is the key to weight control, you might move more and focus less on what you eat. While exercise can definitely support weight loss — and make you feel awesome, among other benefits — people tend to overestimate the amount of calories they burn while working out and compensate for the extra activity by eating more.”
That said, if you want the ultimate key to weight loss and building your dream body, you’ll do BOTH.
Yes, diet should be priority number one. After all, you can’t out-train a bad diet.
I’m also sure you heard the cliché, “Abs are made in the kitchen.”
You’ve heard these expressions because they’re true.
If you stuff yourself at lunch with a 2,000+ calorie meal, the amount of exercise you’d need to do to “burn” it off, would be impractical.
That’s why you really need to get a handle on your diet.
But focusing on just diet alone, won’t give you that toned, beach-ready body most people want.
You’ve got to exercise. And by exercise, I mean resistance training and a little cardio sprinkled in.
Combining these things is the “holy grail” of fat loss. It’s what leads to YOU having the body of your dreams.
So instead of believing it takes one or the other … believe it takes both.
This alone, will start to guide your actions in the right direction, and before you know it, you’ll have the body you’ve always wanted!
And one more thing – if you’re serious about managing your overall health and fitness, why not take advantage of your FREE Fitness Consultation? (an $87 value)
During this consult, you’ll receive detailed information on how to get fit and trim that’s tailored to YOUR body.
There’s no obligation and it’s totally and completely free. To sign up, click here.
References:
[1]. McFerran, Brent, Mukhopadhyay, Anirban. Lay Theories of Obesity Predict Actual Body Mass. Psychol Sci. 2013 Jun 5. [Epub ahead of print]