When you use weight, pounds, or kilograms to set your goals for, and keep track of your weight loss progress, you may be unknowingly undermining the achievement of success.

There are at least two reasons why you should not get too focused on the weight aspect of losing fat.

• Your subconscious cannot differentiate between the good or bad of what you say, think and focus on.  It simply works on what you focus on and are passionate about. When you focus on weight, your subconscious will just as likely assist you in this and help you to put on weight. When you are consistently thinking about, talking about, worrying about weight (pounds, kilograms) that is most likely what your subconscious will assist you in achieving extra of; weight. Thus what you are trying to do and what you are focusing your subconscious on are counterproductive and will likely mean that you will not be successful in your attempts to lose fat.
• Universal Truth: lean muscle tissue is heavier than fat tissue. If you are excited and get involved in an aggressive program of weight loss which include resistance training as well as aerobic training you will undoubtedly increase your lean muscle mass as you are losing fat tissue.

Let’s say you

• Lose  a pint of fat tissue weighing approx 0.99 lbs

and

• you gain a  pint of muscle tissue approx. 1.1 lbs

Your weigh scales will tell you that

• not only have you not lost weight but, in fact,
• you have gained weight.

This could leave a person’s ego very deflated and even exasperated which might lead to quitting the weight loss program. You might even be so discouraged that you try to make yourself feel better by what got you here in the first place; eating some comfort food.

[]

**Now that you are aware of this potential flaw, you can plan for it by setting your goal to:

• lose fat not weight

Now take action.

1. Take and record in your journal:
   1. Measurements of your chest, waist, upper arms, and thighs. You can measure more but this should do.
   2. Get a friend to take full body pictures of you including: frontal, back, and both sides.
   3. It doesn’t hurt to measure and record your weight; just don’t fixate on it.
   4. Set goals for yourself with regard to the measurements of the areas you have recorded. These goals could include weekly goals, monthly goals and a final goal. Be easy with yourself at the beginning and adjust your goals either up or down if you need to. Set reasonable goals that are attainable but that also push you.
   5. Create your own personal mind movies. Visualize you looking slim, svelte, and glowing with renewed energy. Picture yourself wearing new clothes with this new look you. See yourself walking into the theater, through the mall and being admired for the successes you have achieved.  Repeat these movies several times a day.
   6. NOW – Follow your chosen dieting and exercise programs. 
   7. Celebrate your successes; accept an occasional set back with renewed effort and resolve.

Good luck and success!