How Keeping This Secret Can Help You Lose Fat

If you’re serious about losing your spare tire, keep your lips sealed.

People who keep their goals to themselves have a better chance at accomplishing what they set out to achieve, reports a recent study from New York University. Researchers conducted four studies that focused on how goals and plans affect cognition and behavior. When the study participants told others of their intentions, and their intentions were acknowledged, the recognition they received qualified as an accomplishment, the researchers found.

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That recognition could decrease the motivation to continue to improve your health/weight, since you already received kudos for the effort to try, explains Erin Palinski, a New Jersey-based nutritionist.

Many people also find co-workers, friends, and even family members sabotage their efforts at times, says Palinski. “For instance, those who announce they are trying to lose weight may have friends or family tell them they have done so well with their weight loss efforts for a few days, that it’s okay to splurge,” says Palinski. “Or they may think the individual is depriving themselves and offer tempting foods to the person trying to lose weight.”

So what’s the moral of this story? Keep you diets plans to yourself. Not only will it help you from falling off the ball, it will eliminate people from constantly asking you how much progress you’ve made thus far (even if you’ve just started).

If you just can’t keep your trap shut, Palinski suggests only telling friends and family members that you feel will be supportive of your efforts, weight loss goals, and intentions. That way, your so-called support group will keep you on track rather than telling you to splurge.

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Additional research by Diana Kelly

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