Why Marriages and Diets Fail

Maybe I’ve got marriage on my mind (duh, I just got married less then two weeks ago), but I’ve been thinking a lot about success…

50% of marriages fail and over 90% of diets fail

Yet, 50% of marriages do work and there are a ton of skinny men and women out there who would never think of dieting (by now if you don’t know how stupid diets are then I’m going to hurt you if you hop on another Monday morning diet! Stop it.).

Here are seven ways you can dramatically increase your personal success and begin sloughing of pounds right away:

1. Know what you want and write it down

List 10 super-motivating reasons why you must make a change today to look dashing. For example: "increase my energy level" or "fit into that new slinky bikini" or “be an example for my children”, etc. Keep the list handy either in your purse or at your desk where you cannot miss it. When your motivations dips, or when you want to throw your hands up in a weak moment this list will guarantee that you focus on where you’re heading.

If you want to be in a relationship, you have to know why so you can attract just the right person into your life.

2. Commit

As with any successful marriage or relationship, you’ve got to commit. Commit to slim down and no matter what happens, rain or shine, you are committed to thinking and living thin (just like being committed to your loved one) and getting a fabulous figure. Adopt that "I can do it" attitude, because you can!

3. Appreciate the good

You can’t have a successful relationship/marriage if you aren’t focused on what is positive about the other person, right? Well why in the world would you think you could have a fabulous relationship with your body if all you do is focus on your fat? Simply, you can’t! A relationship will never work if you bark at your significant other all the time or focus on his/her faults. That’s just a divorce waiting to happen (or a binge when you are trying to slim down!)

Slimming down while noticing and finding all the fabulous parts of your body will get you lasting results-fast. Look at yourself right now in the mirror and find two parts that you can say “yes” about. It may be only a few beautiful parts that you can come up with, but the more you do it, the more parts you will find.

4. Have fun

This whole weight-loss thing may be work at times (like a relationship), but it should be mostly fun! Find the joy in slimming down. It can be fun you know! I know some of you don’t believe me, just like some of you don’t think a relationship is all that much fun, but it can be. It’s all in your perception.

Think about what’s fun about slimming down…it’s fun to dream about a thinner body, it’s fun to learn what your body wants and needs, it’s fun to see results, and it’s fun knowing that we all have bodies that can change size. I know it’s not all that fun when your body changes to the larger size (I know with having my thyroid out this year…that gaining weight is not that much fun…but I also know that you can slim back down too…and we’re all so lucky to be able to slim down!)

5. You’ve got to listen

A relationship/marriage will thrive when you really know your partner, and the only way to really know your partner is by listening. Well your body speaks too. It tells you which foods don’t agree with your digestive system, which foods you may have sensitivities to, as well as which foods digest beautifully in your body. Listening to what and when your body needs food is probably the most important aspect of maintaining a healthy weight (just like a marriage…so I’ve been told).

6. Keep the passion alive

Seeing the pounds fall off is exciting, but what happens when you plateau? It can get awfully frustrating not seeing results…just like when you’re in a relationship and it’s just kind of boring and dull!

Well do something to liven things up: plan a vacation that kicks you into gear, start making date nights where you have to wear something that blows your partner away, or go get your nails done for a reasonable price at a beauty school.

Take care of yourself at all times and it will make the peaks and valleys delightful.

7. Recharge your motivation battery

Do you ever get all jazzed up about slimming down and sticks with you for about two weeks or for some of you just two days…and then you await the excitement and motivation again? You are in the majority.

Motivation is something you have to DO. It’s not passive. So kick the passive habit by doing something great for yourself like putting new and fun pictures up on your vision board, create a new goal, visualize how fabulous you are becoming in your new thin body, or just jump around the house saying “I’m fabulous” (if you dance around your house telling your partner he or she is fabulous, I guarantee you’ll energize your relationship – while giving the two of you a good laugh).

For more weekly live coaching from me, head to www.ThinWithinU.com.