Mind over Matter

Mind over Matter will make the Pooh unfatter.

How do you talk to your self? Are you gentle, kind, supportive, positive, encouraging? Or are you judgemental, derogatory, harsh, belittling, negative, and self deprecating? As Depak Chopra is quoted as saying "our inner verbalization creates our reality".

Simple Buddhism A guide to enlightened living by C. Alexander Simpkins PH.D. explains the Buddhist view on "Right Thought, Right Action".  

"Changes in our thoughts lead to changes in our feelings. The same is true of conduct. If we change our behaviour, our feelings and thoughts will change as well. The basis for the change is simpler than it seems. Behaviour, feelings, and thoughts are linked together in such a way that each affects the other and each can change the other."

If you dread or hate going to the gym, no matter what great workout you do, you are not going to get the most benefits.  Changing your inner dialogue and attitude will change the way your body processes and experiences the workout and be better for you.  The energy your mind is taking to create the negative thoughts is displaced where it could be use to help you get a better workout and burn more calories. When you are happy/positive your body produces endorphins :An endogenous opioid from the pituitary gland that blocks pain, decreases appetite, creates a feeling of euphoria (the exercise high), and reduces tension and anxiety. When your body is stressed/negative it produces cortisol: A hormone released by the cortex (outer portion) of the adrenal gland when a person is under stress. Cortisol levels are now considered a biological marker of suicide risk. Therefore your inner dialogue and thoughts could be holding you back from reaching your healthy goals. Change the thoughts and watch the pounds come off a little quicker.

"Perception is an active process, involving both objective and subjective experience.  The sensations we have from contact with the world lead to a desire to fill our wants. We desire pleasant sensations to continue and unpleasant ones to stop."

"False beliefs and assumptions create states of mind that bias and limit our perception." 

For example if you look at a plate of kale and think "yuck", no matter how good it may taste you have predisposed your taste buds and body to not like it.  What if you changed the thought to "looks healthy", "natural", "good for me", or "filled with nutrients" ?  It might end up tasting a little better than you expected. In fact you might even like it.  Same goes for your perception of yourself.  If you look in the mirror and talk to yourself with negativity and hate "I hate my sagging tummy and stretch marks" you are bias to only perceiving the negative in yourself. Why not change the perception and use your inner dialogue to praise and appreciate what your body does for you everyday? Your belly may have carried and nurtured your two most prized possessions, your children. Turn the negative to positive and your outlook on what your body has and can do will change how you look at yourself. Changing the chatter could be just what you need to make you unfatter.