The Truth About Weight Loss

Weight-Loss-PlateauWeight loss is a tricky beast, and sounds easier in theory than it is in reality. Many people have misconceptions about weight loss and set themselves up for disappointment by not understanding what it actually looks like. Here are some of the key points to keep in mind on your weight loss journey:

1) You have to be ready to reach your goal. Are you willing to give up ALL of your excuses? Really? Weight loss takes a lot of focus and dedication, and excuses are obstacles that will hinder the process. Before you set your sights on a big goal, make sure that you are really ready to take on the challenge and accept no excuses from yourself. Giving up the excuses will clear your path to the finish line.

2) Don’t expect a running start. Expect your body to do weird things in the first 6 weeks of starting a new training program. Some people lose weight, some stay the same and lose inches, and some lose weight and lose inches. The reality is, your body is trying to figure out WTF you’re doing and how to respond to it. After 4-6 weeks, it will respond to your brain’s mojo, and the scale should start trending downward.

3) Even as you’re losing weight, you will have “fat days.” Yesterday you were svelte and defined, and today you feel like a bloated sausage. That is perfectly normal, and does NOT mean what you’re doing is not working! One day of bloated sausage is just that – ONE DAY. Do not throw in the towel and invite your friends Ben & Jerry over for a pity party. Tomorrow is a new day, and you may feel even better tomorrow than you did yesterday!

4) The road to success is not a straight line. You will have times that your body will plateau for a week or two, especially if you have a lot of weight to lose. Your body needs time to readjust and balance itself out every once in a while, and you should let it. If you still have a lot of weight to lose and your weight plateaus for more than 2 weeks, you should re-evaluate what you’re doing, because it’s probably time to make some changes.

5) Your body has a “happy weight,” which you may not agree with. I don’t like to set final weight goals with my clients because, the reality is, nobody knows what that’s going to be. If you’re 45 y/o, you are not likely going to weigh what you did at your best shape at 25 y/o, but you may be able to wear the same size jeans! Your body will eventually reach its “happy weight” and plateau. It may not be at the number you want, but who cares? You will be happy with your accomplishments at that weight, and it will have been worth all the hard work!

Ashley Brodeur, MS, CPT
Exercise Physiologist
Owner, Active Lifestyle Fitness, LLC