How To Inspire Your WLS Journey With A Vision Board

We often know what to do to improve our results after WLS. We know that regular movement, eating healthy foods, getting more sleep, taking our bariatric supplements, eating slowly and mindfully and so on will all help to move us in the right direction for long-term success.

Actually doing those actions on a consistent basis takes ongoing effort however, and our follow-through often comes down to how motivated and inspired we are. 

So how do we get more motivated and inspired?

How can we shift our mindset to help us to consistently take action?

The great news is that you don’t have to wait for motivation and inspiration to just ‘show up’. There are many powerful ways that you can actually cultivate and grow these feelings yourself. One easy and effective way to do this is to create and use a vision board. 

What is a vision board?

In simple terms a vision board is a mixture of images that inspire and motivate you. 

A vision board can be used to inspire you in any area of life, it’s not limited to just the area of health and weight. There are many high performers in all walks of life that swear by them. 

Famous examples include Oprah Winfrey, Katie Perry, Jim Carey, Beyonce, Arnold Swarzenegger, Will Smith, Sara Blakey and Michael Phelps.

You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete, a successful entrepreneur or top musician to get the benefit from this powerful tool however. They’re available for everyone to use.

How a vision board works

Neuroscience has now clearly proven that the human brain is malleable and trainable at any age. This incredible ability is referred to as 'neuroplasticity', and it allows you to train your brain for success in any area, including your health and weight management. 

Visualisation is one of the most powerful and effective ways to train your brain. 

The rewiring process uses two key components: neural resonance and mirror neourons. Neural resonance is involved in focus and problem-solving. Mirror neurons are important in the learning process and planning our actions, as well as understanding the intentions behind them. 

Visualisation can therefore help us to rewire our brains resulting in greater access to ideas, solutions, and motivation.

The selective attention involved during visualisation imprints on the part of your brain that filters out unnecessary information, and focuses on information that's relevant. Your brain then focuses on your goals and introduces you to the information you need to make them happen.

Visualisation can also help reduce anxiety and doubt.

The idea of doing things that you haven't done before, or achieving something that we're not sure we can do, can be a source of stress on our brains. The act of regular visualisation however will help these things feel familiar and achievable, and can therefore lower your stress response.

What to include in a vision board

A vision board can be a physical board with images and photos attached to it or it can be created on your computer or phone - and there are many free and paid apps out there that you can download to help you create one.

In its simplest form, it could just be an inspiring image that you save as your screensaver on your phone or a photo that you stick on the fridge door.

The vision board is designed to inspire and motivate you, so it’s important to fill it with in inspiring images and anything that makes you feel positive when you look at it. You can also include words that lift and motivate you.  Include images that make you feel empowered, and motivated about healthy eating, moving your body and stress management. 

Ideas include:

• pictures of you from the past where you were at your ideal weight or images of people who have the health and figure that you want;
• motivational quotes that make you feel confident and empowered;
• pictures of healthy food and recipes you’d like to try that make you feel excited about eating them;
• pictures of people doing the activities that you want to do e.g. hiking, running, doing yoga or travelling; 
• images of the clothing that you’ll be wearing at your goal weight e.g. a swimsuit, dress or a business suit; and
• images of famous people you admire or respect that inspire positive feelings and action in you. 

What not to include 

It’s important to have an empowering picture to move towards. What we’re advocating is to create a healthy body image to aim for. That means that it needs to be healthy for your mind too - in that it’s realistic and achievable.

The media surrounds us with images of the so-called perfect body with flawless models. Like most people, you may not have the genetics, or resources to achieve a body like that. It’s also worth remembering that many of these photos are taken with very flattering lighting, airbrushed and extremely posed.

Avoid any pictures that are unrealistic or unachievable. 

It’s also important to avoid pictures that are intended to ‘shame you into action’. Sometimes people put a photo up of where they were at their largest, as a way of saying ‘I will never go back there’. The problem with this however is that it’s actually reinforcing an old image of you in your brain that you’re trying to move away from. So instead fill the vision board with the images that you want to move towards.  

How to use your vision board

Create a habit of looking at your vision board regularly. Ideally you want to spend anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes with your vision board each day.  Like physical activity, if you don't do it, it won't work, so keep your board accessible.

First thing in the morning and last thing at night are particularly effective times to work with your vision board. Looking at the vision board in the morning will help steer you towards making the right choices duing the day. Looking at the vision board before going to bed will help rewire your brain as you sleep and dream.

The important thing though is to find a time that works for you. It could be when you’re travelling to work on the bus or when you’re needing an energy boost in the afternoon. 

When looking at your vision board, it’s important to really ‘feel’ your vision. Allow your imagination to let loose and really ‘feel’ as if you are there. Our feelings send strong signals to our unconscious mind, which in turn informs the brain of what we want. Allow your images to generate intense feelings, like joy, excitement, happiness or whatever you'll feel once you’ve achieved your vision. Hold these feelings for as long as you can, and ideally for at least 20 to 30-seconds at a time. 

It’s also important to visualise yourself doing the work i.e. the steps it takes to get to the vision. See yourself exercising, making healthy food choices, getting lots of sleep and looking after yourself. This will make taking those actions much easier and less stressful. 

A springboard to action

Remember a vision board is a powerful tool to inspire and motivate you - it doesn’t work on its own however. You must back it up with action. As opportunities for change show up, you need to show up as well and take the necessary steps. 

Enjoy creating and using your vision board and we look forward to hearing how it works for you!