Setbacks are a common and natural part of every weight management journey. The most common setbacks in weight management include off-track days, a disappointing result on the scale, or seeing an unflattering picture of yourself.   It may be surprising to learn that success in weight management is determined not by having setbacks but by how you respond to them.   Your response to setbacks can affect whether you stick to your weight management plan or not, which is strongly associated with weight loss and improved health. 

When setbacks happen, your brain generates automatic self-critical thoughts that speak poorly about you as a person or your ability to succeed in managing your weight. When these thoughts are unchallenged, they can lead to negative emotions and demotivation which further prevents you from successfully managing your weight. 

Examples of automatic self-critical thoughts: "I was doing so well but now I blew it. Clearly, I can’t do this." or "I worked so hard but I’m still not losing weight. What’s the point?" 

Resilience is the ability to respond positively to setbacks and generate motivation instead of demotivation. Resilience is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened. Over time, you will be able to develop deliberate thinking patterns that challenge automatic, negative thinking.

To learn more about how you can develop resilience and challenge negative thoughts, contact the experts at MWM.  We support your long-term succes!