Don t lose weight when dieting: How the language we use could affect how successfully we will shed those extra holiday pounds

Don”t “lose weight” when dieting: How the language we use could affect how successfully we”ll shed those extra holiday pounds
As we find ourselves in the midst of an often indulgent holiday season, advice on dieting can be difficult to stomach.
This week”s weight-loss wisdom, however comes courtesy of happiness expert, Sophie Keller, whose self-ascribed “unusual” tips on maintaining your ideal weight suggest that language, not deprivation, plays a key role in our success.
According to Ms Keller, the way we talk about our eating habits and dietary goals directly affects our ability to lose weight.

Saying it right: According to happiness expert, Sophie Keller, the key to successful dieting is in the language we use to talk about it

Ms Keller, who counts Master Practitioner and Trainer in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, professional Feng Shui Consultant and Yoga Instructor among her many qualifications, believes negative language is often the reason we fail to achieve our objectives when it comes to health and diet.
Her somewhat questionable theory draws parallels between the commonly held fear of dying and our21st century impatience, with our struggle to follow diets and shed the pounds.

Expert: Sophie Keller is a life coach, communications expert and author of the How Happy Is series

She wrote on the Huffington Post: “Most people have an innate fear of dying, so it?is?no?wonder?most?of?us?struggle?so?hard?with?”die-ting”".
Similarly, she concludes, because no one likes to “lose” or “wait” for anything in our fast-paced world, the expression “lose weight” is an unproductive way to think about trying to stay healthy.
Ms Keller instead prescribes a more positive approach to dieting. Choosing affirmative phrasing and vocabulary is more likely to produce results, she advises, but fails to elaborate on what that is.
We imagine she means that “getting a better body” is preferable to the more self deprecating, “losing a few pounds”.
The same positivity is needed, apparently, in the way you communicate your intentions.
Instead of talking about what you”re going to do next week or in the new year, the self-help author suggests taking action immediately.
She believes that talking about the future implies “that you”re dreading this change” and encourages considering the decision to slim down as an exciting change in your life that you can”t wait to initiate.