by Joe Washburn
Losing weight is not easy. That may be an obvious statement to some, but unless you’ve been there, you don’t really know how hard it can be. You have to make sure you’re eating the right foods. You have to find the time to exercise. Sometimes, it’s hard just to get motivated to exercise. And when you’re overweight, exercise isn’t easy.
With all our available resources today, you would think it would be easier to find the tools we need. But such is not the case. Those who produce such tools often rely on the general misunderstanding of what it takes to lose weight to sell their product or service. For example, many exercise equipment manufacturers will sell you on the idea that their device will help you spot reduce. The truth is you cannot spot reduce. When you burn fat, you burn fat from all over your body, not one specific spot.
Then, what do you do about the cravings? You decide to give up certain unhealthy foods only to be invited to a birthday party, and someone offers you a large piece of chocolate cake. How do you pass that up? The temptation can be very discouraging.
Despite these challenges, there are things you can do to make it easier and give you a purpose. Here are four things you can do today to tackle these challenges.
- Set a Goal
We’ve all heard about the importance of setting a goal. But not everyone makes their goals.
Sarah and Debbie independently decide to go to the gym every morning before work. Debbie gets up the first morning, gets out of bed and her feet hit the cold floor. She realizes that it’s cold out. She gets back into bed because she prefers to be warm. She’d rather get that extra hour of sleep before work.
On the other hand, Sarah gets up, and her feet hit the cold floor. But she continues on and goes to the gym for her workout.
What makes the difference between these two? Debbie’s focus is on the process. And the process is hard and not very inviting. Sarah is focused on the results she wants. She is determined to reach her goal no matter how difficult the process is.
It takes more than just deciding how much weight you want to lose. You also have to determine what you will do to get there. If you were planning a trip, you would set a destination and then determine a route to get you there. Your goal is your destination. The things you decide you will do are the route you plan to take to get to your goal. Decide to be determined to get there.
- Avoid Cravings
At one time, I had difficulty passing by a vending machine without checking out what was in it and often buying something I found appealing. There are a lot of vending machines where I work. When I decided to lose weight, I found it hard to pass by them without wanting to look in to see what they offered. But I was determined to lose weight, so I would pass by them, telling myself not to even look. It would have been nice if I could have avoided them altogether, but that was impossible.
Now, I can walk by them without being tempted to look to see what’s there. I had to bear in mind that those foods were what put me in the situation I was in (overweight and diabetic).
Then there were the family get-togethers. Can’t exactly avoid those either. My family knew what I was doing and were understanding about it. At a birthday party for my oldest grandson, they served tacos. Salads and other vegetables were available to those who didn’t want tacos. As much as I love tacos, I opted for a salad and vegetables. When it came to the cake, I had a small piece.
Know what triggers your cravings and avoid them whenever possible. Dig deep and become determined to change for your own sake, and you can overcome these temptations.
- Don’t Starve Yourself
One of the biggest misconceptions about losing weight is that you have to starve yourself to do it. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It’s a recipe for failure. It would be best to eat enough that you’re not hungry but don’t overindulge.
You should also know what foods are good for you and what foods are bad for you. And remember, you don’t have to give up having the foods that are bad for you. Just limit how much of those bad foods you eat. I still enjoy an occasional pizza. But I put a limit on how much I eat in one sitting.
It’s a simple formula. Eat more of what’s good for you and less of what’s bad for you.
- Avoid Comparison
Oh, the comparisons. I made weight loss look easy. I went from 230 pounds to 185 pounds in six months. I also took my A1C from 8.6 to 5.1 in that same timeframe. But most people don’t know what it took for me to make that happen.
They don’t know how hard it was to exercise when I had a huge belly in the way. They don’t know about the times my efforts plateaued, and I wasn’t sure if I would get to my goal. Every day, I wondered if I was going to make it happen.
Everyone is different. Weight loss is easier for some people than it is for others. But it’s never actually easy. Everyone has challenges to meet. Comparing yourself to others won’t get you there. My journey is not your journey. Your journey is yours. Face your challenges and be an inspiration to others who are on their journey.
With determination, you can reach your weight loss goals. Look at it as a journey of discovery. There are so many unique experiences you can have along the way.
Be patient with yourself. Plan on taking it slow. Follow the tips I’ve given you here and keep going. Your health is worth it.
Losing weight doesn’t have to be an impossible mountain to climb. It can be a hill that will take some effort to climb, but it will be a beautiful view when you get to the top.
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