Collect Yourself

Collect Yourself
Article By: Michelle Olson


Even when you feel totally stressed and overwhelmed, bring some calm into your life. It's for the sake of your weight-loss success!


Have you ever found a special shell on the beach during a vacation? If you have, you might have brought it home as a reminder of a peaceful, relaxing time. When staying on your weight-loss plan seems stressful, reminders of those serene feelings can help you achieve success. Here's how you can harness positive memories to help you.

Collect yourself

You're probably familiar with Anchoring, a powerful resource from Weight Watchers Tools for Living. Anchoring to a calming memento such as a seashell, a pebble or a leaf is a great way to find solace in the rush of your day-to-day life. Just close your eyes and center yourself. A sense of stillness and tranquility can save your sanity and help keep your weight-loss efforts on track.

And it doesn't take a lot of time. Just 10, 20 or 30 minutes of being absolutely alone without distractions like phones, computers, children and bosses can be effective.

Here are some calming ideas if you have…


10 minutes: Find a quiet place — perhaps in your car or in the bathroom — where no one can bother you. Focus on Anchoring to a memento or memory of a calm and peaceful time. Close your eyes, relax your jaw, breathe and recall the feelings of being in that serene time and place.

20 minutes: Leave your to-do list and cell phone behind and take a 20-minute walk. Instead of focusing on your neighborhood or allowing your mind to race, focus on your anchor.

30 minutes: Try a few relaxing yoga poses. If you're not familiar with yoga, take a bath, dance to a favorite song or participate in another physical activity that you enjoy.

Whenever your weight-loss efforts start to overwhelm you, use Anchoring to regain your focus. It's the best way to stay on plan for life.



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