Are You There Yet?

To see real results, you need to be in the right mindset. But how do you know if you’re there yet? And if you aren’t there, how can you get there?

Industry experts have used a simple, one-stop tool for years to help clients lead healthier lives. The Weight Loss Readiness Test gauges how mentally prepared you are to start a program that will change your life. With indexes on motivation, expectations, confidence, hunger and eating cues, binge eating and purging, and emotional eating, the assessment aims to pinpoint your challenge areas and determine if you are ready to start a new diet and exercise program.

Critics may oppose the idea that a person should continue on with unhealthy lifestyle habits until he or she is ‘ready’ to diet, asserting that any diet is better than no diet at all. However, what we know about weight loss is that gradual changes are far more beneficial than a binary mentality – either you’re dieting or you’re not. Instead of yo-yoing between committing to and cheating on a strict diet, it’s better to implement small, permanent changes – for example, giving up all soda or cutting back on refined sugars.

Specifically, the tests asks participants to rate their level of motivation and commitment – are you dedicated to finding new ways to lose weight, to go the distance, to take risks? Or are you simply starting a diet because you think that you should? Do you wish you were skinnier, or do you really want to lead a healthier lifestyle?

Next, how realistic are your ambitions? Are you hoping to drop 30 pounds in two months, or will you work towards a more reasonable 1-2 pounds per week? Ambitious, yet attainable goals are critical for new dieters. If your expectations are unrealistically high, you are likely to get discouraged and quit your plan. But if you set small but consistent goals for yourself, you’re more likely to succeed and continue with your new program.

The test can also give you an awareness of potential triggers that can derail your diet. Knowing, for example, that you like to celebrate good news with large portions and high-calorie meals can help you stop yourself next time around, considering the consequences of what you eat. You can prepare yourself to deal with precarious situations by coming up with creative ways to prevent overeating or comfort snacking.

Finally, you need to be confident before you start on a new fitness endeavor. Confidence will inspire determination and results. To truly commit to weight loss and maintenance, it is important to devote time, energy, and resources each day. If you are not confident in your ability to do this, your diet is much more likely to fail. If you cannot dedicate yourself to making your lifestyle more active, your fitness plan can easily fall to the wayside. But by starting out with small, concrete personal challenges – such as parking at the end of the lot, always taking the stairs, or cutting back on your caffeine habit – you can build your confidence. With this newfound self-esteem and conviction, you are on the road to living the fit, active lifestyle.

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