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How to take charge of unhelpful thoughts

Weekly technique

Last updated September 1, 2024
How to take charge of unhelpful thoughts

After a setback, you can’t always control what pops into your mind. Resist entering the chat and start a new conversation instead.

Try this!

1. Identify an unhelpful thought: Pay attention when your brain starts telling you something that’s less than supportive. For example:  “I ate all those cookies, and now my week is ruined. Why even bother tracking??”    2. Create some distance: Imagine that thought as a cartoon character and you’re just relaying the script. For example:  “There’s that thought—it says this week is a wash and I should give up.”   3. Commit to act:  Decide which actions you’ll take based on your goals, not what that single thought dictates.  For example: “I don’t have to quit—I’ll make (and track!) a low-Points® dinner tonight and snack on ZeroPoint® foods.”

Let’s dive a little deeper…

Ever try to quietly evict unhelpful thoughts from your brain? Yeah, it doesn’t always work. Especially during stressful or busy times when more of these unwelcome “guests” tend to move in. What does work: Accepting them merely as thoughts—not true statements—then taking back some power by inviting in other, action-oriented thoughts.

This approach is critical on a weight-loss journey because what you think often drives what you do. So if thoughts of failure or quitting go unchecked, you could find yourself doing just that. But when you separate yourself from what your brain is saying, you have space to consider the facts and alternatives—like the fact that setbacks and fresh starts are normal.

Don’t worry if this shift doesn’t happen overnight. This type of mindfulness can feel hard or strange at first—and so many of our thoughts are automatic. Be patient. As with other parts of your journey, the more you practice, the easier it can become.

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1 fast fact

Thoughts are not facts.

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