Ask people who have weight issues and are trying to shed what their greatest challenges are, and they will tell you that their expectations are one of the biggest challenges they face. The mind is a powerful tool that influences our mood at work and, by extension, our outcomes. If you are hungry, you may not know that you are unless your brain tells you. And almost immediately, you will start to feel hunger pangs.

By the same stretch, people who think about and salivate over food will be more likely to crave even more food than those who think less about it. The way we mentally approach our diet can impact our lifestyle choices more than we know. And our thoughts and expectations influence each other. Not many know this to be true, but it is.

This best explains why some people can maintain a strict diet for a long time while others cannot, no matter how hard they try.

Your thoughts influence your habits

For instance,  if you are on a strict diet of low carbs and zero fat menus or your nutritionist advised you to stick to solely vegan meals for the next one week. You might be able to do that comfortably for the first few days. However, if on the third day you begin to reminisce about the pleasurable taste of beef or mutton, you will notice that by the fourth day, you will find it hard to stick to the routine because your body craves red meat all of a sudden.

The mind can influence food cravings

Food cravings are simply the strong desire to consume a particular food. For most people, the desire is uncontrollable, and regardless of whatever they eat, they will not feel satisfied until they eat what they want. Many people on a weight loss program feel intense cravings for a particular food, and the more they think about it, the stronger the craving will become.

So you see, by indulging in that craving, they find it hard to maintain the program, so they end up breaking the diet. And unfortunately, the foods they end up eating will trigger weight gain and ruin the little progress they’ve previously made.

Also, these cravings bubble to the surface when they least expect and may be triggered by sight, thoughts or even the smell. So what should you do to shift your expectations about food so you can continue with your weight loss program?

Discipline your thoughts

The first thing you will have to do is discipline yourself. First, start by guarding your thoughts as much as possible. If you have been told to eat less so you can shed weight, the last thing you should do is allow yourself to think about food.

Train your mind

The second thing will be to train your mind by convincing yourself that the low carb, low starch and sugar-free foods you eat daily are not as bad as you thought. If you train your mind, with time, your brain will be convinced into accepting that the meals are not bad after all.

Avoid restaurants

Another way to shift your expectations is to avoid restaurants, parties or places where food will be present. The sight or pleasant aroma may trigger the cravings you are trying so hard to avoid.

If you can do these things diligently, you will build the mental capacity to eat right always.