Keeping on track to lose weight can feel impossible toward the end of your goal. You’re almost there but something tells you, “oh a piece of cake won’t hurt, I’ve made it this far”, then it sends you spiraling down a path to which you started from.
The fact is, when it comes to weight loss, there is no end goal. Fitness is a lifestyle and should be approached with the right mindset, not the right diet.
Even down to how you foresee your “new body”. Once the weight is all off, you have to consider the amount of skin you’ll have and new attention you’ll receive. Yes, everybody is different and recovers at various rates, however, if your mindset is to look like someone else besides yourself, you might be in for a rude awakening.
Why, you ask?
As one of the top resolutions to improving one’s health, people who want to lose weight accounts for a combined total of 54.14%. But losing weight and getting healthy in general also are some of the most easily and commonly broken resolutions. In fact, one study from the University of Scranton suggests that only 8% of us will actually achieve our resolution goals.
This is due to fad “quick” diets, the wrong mindset and misdirected reasons. The influx of social media, marketing, and entertainment influence haveplayed a role in our fad dieting and need for quick results. Some individuals unconsciously follow and seek to replicate with they see every single day. Take the Kardashian sisters for instance. If you’re subscribed to viewing images of their bodies, liking their perfect makeup looks and lavish lifestyle followed by the amounts of praise and acknowledgment that they receive from these things, you will, in turn, seek that same result.
Another thing to mention is that time has a lot to do with the younger generation and the lack of attention span they have. Patience is key in weight loss. If you gained a solid 50 pounds over 1 year, how is it that you expect to see it gone in less than 6 months? Patience will be one of the biggest key factors in your weight loss journey and you want to always keep the mindset that it takes time.
So, what does it take?
Glad you asked! First thing’s first, you have to focus on your health. This is your big picture. At the end of the day, you want to be able to move around and work out to the best of your ability, regardless of your inner personal goals. Starting with the food the goes into your body and how your system works with certain types of produce is essential.
Get used to saying “lifestyle”. No more using the term “diet”. Just throw it out the window like you never knew the word. Incorporating a healthy lifestyle will pour over into your daily life, actions, and choices, for the better!
Being realistic and having patience with yourself will do a lot more good than harm. Who cares if it took you 6 months to lose 20 pounds. It is your journey and your body.
Last but certainly not least, there is no one size fits all when it comes to weight loss. Someone’s method might not show the same results for you. Comparing your weight or how your body looks compared to others is absolutely out of the question. Yes, I know we have #bodygoals and people we want to use as inspiration, however, you must solely use it as that and not as your motivation.
Motivation has to start with you, it’s that one thing that will keep you going no matter what you see on the scale or little too drastic changes you see in your body. Start here and you won’t go wrong!
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.