A new study on weight loss seems to confirm what most of us knew all along: We can do it if we think we can.

A recent article from HealthDay news reported results of a study from the Center of Obesity Research and Education and Temple University, which showed that mental barriers kept many obese women from exercising. The results of the study were presented at The Obesity Society's recent annual meeting in Phoenix.

The study looked at 278 women taking part in a year-long study designed to encourage physical activity. They completed questionnaires at the beginning of the program, then three months later and one year later.

Obese women reported more barriers to exercising than those women of normal weight. These barriers included feeling self conscious, fear of falling and injury, perceptions of poor health, minor aches and pains and "feeling too overweight to exercise."

The study seems to prove that mental attitude plays a large role in weight loss success.

"There is an underlying attitude about weight loss, that's it's easy if you eat less and exercise more. But if losing weight were easy, we wouldn't have the obesity epidemic we have today," said Melissa Napolitano in the article, which appeared on Yahoo!News. Napolitano is a clinical psychologist at the Center and an associate kinesiology professor at Temple.

So, what does this mean for you? It calls to mind the old adage: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." In addition to eating right and exercising more, a positive attitude can play a big difference in your weight loss effort.

There are many ways to develop a positive mental outlook. Some people turn to hypnosis, which can be used to change old thought patterns and behaviors. Others use positive affirmations throughout the day, "If it's to be, it's up to me," etc.

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Other people change their attitude by taking their weight loss efforts slowly, one day or even one hour at a time. For example, rather than promising themselves to run five miles a day, every day when they've never run a step, they promise to go for a 10 minute walk today.

Likewise, rather than changing abruptly to a non-fat, low-cholesterol vegetarian diet, they start a weight loss program by simply cutting out their mid-afternoon chocolate bar. Once they succeed at small changes, they become more confident in attempting other changes.

In a nutshell, the study confirms the Nike slogan, "Just do it." If the alarm rings, signaling you to go out for your morning walk on a rainy day, groan, shut off the alarm and get out of bed anyway. Once you get moving, you'll feel better.

Or, if the local grocery store has fresh-baked doughnuts on sale, take a deep breath and walk the other way. Once you get out of range of the aroma, chances are you'll forget all about the doughnuts. Soon you notice your clothes will be fitting looser.

A positive mental outlook is one of the most important tools in weight loss. Remember the little engine that could: "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can."

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