Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

If losing weight were easy, everybody would be doing it.  There would be a magic pill that ACTUALLY worked.  There wouldn’t be fad diets or fad slimming-teas or fad miracle waist-cinchers.  But losing weight ISN’T easy nor is there a one-size fits all approach to dropping those extra few ponds – no matter what anyone tells you.  But no one talks about that.  No one talks about the time and effort and commitment it takes to shed the weight.  Nor does anyone necessarily talk about how they lost the weight.  All we usually see are gimmicks and one-liners on how EASY it is.  Wanna lose 10 lbs, no problem (drink this tea).  Wanna get to half your size, easy-peasy (eat this magical lollipop).

I understand that weight loss is a touchy subject and by no means am I discounting the need to lose weight to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  What I DO want to discuss is that it takes a positive mental attitude and approach to CREATING A LIFESTYLE so that you can get to your ideal weight safely and without pulling out all of your hair.  First things first – just like anything in life – you have to WANT to lose weight for the RIGHT reasons.  Changing your approach to your eating habits, gym habits, health and wellness habits cannot come from a place of negativity and societal pressure.  The desire to become a healthier you has to come from within, it has to be built upon a strong foundation rooted in creating the healthiest version of yourself.  If this is the category you are currently sitting in, then buckle up and get ready to hear what no one else is telling you…cause in my world, honesty is the best policy.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL (OR TEA OR LOLLIPOP OR WAIST TRIMMER) TO LOSING WEIGHT.  Did I say that loud enough?  You cannot attempt to keep the pounds off simply by relying on a pill-a-day program…it won’t work. Losing weight is possible if you put in the necessary time and effort.  You don’t have to uproot your entire eating regimen or start working out for 90 minutes a day, every day.  But you do have to sit down with yourself and have an in-depth discussion around what you are going to CHANGE so that you can see the lasting results that you are looking for.  The equation is easy – calories burned must be greater than calories consumed.  Make sense?  You have to eat fewer calories than the amount of calories you burn through exercise.  That does NOT mean starve yourself.  That does NOT mean cut out all carbs.  That does NOT mean you will never have a cheeseburger or French fries or dessert ever again.  Can I get a sigh of relief?!

But, you DO have to take a look at your diet.  You DO need to eat fewer high calorie, high fat, low nutrient-rich foods and start eating more wholesome, more nutrient-dense, more filling foods.  You can be a meat eater, a vegetarian, a vegan – it DOESN’T matter.  Find what works for you and run with it.  Try to eat clean (meaning nutrient-rich foods) 80% of the time.  IF that seems like a stretch, then start at 60% of the time and work yourself up.  Do NOT deprive yourself of treats…if you do, you will FAIL miserably.  Simply start eating those types of things (cookies, cakes, ice-cream, bread, etc) in MODERATION. As for what types of foods to eat, or what types of meals to make, go online – there are plenty of healthy recipes that are free for the making.  If you don’t know where to start, then consult with someone who can help you put a plan together – a friend, a nutritionist, a trainer.  You don’t have to do this alone.

Secondly, you cannot expect to lose weight and become healthy without doing some form of exercise.  As I said earlier, you do not have to go all crazy and start spending every waking minute at the gym.  If you have been a couch potato for awhile, then make sure to start slowly.  Go for a walk, do squats while watching tv, meet a friend for a date at the basketball court and just shoot around.  As you begin to increase your stamina and your ability to exercise, then you can start implementing more rigorous training routines.  If you are already doing some form of exercise and not seeing results then it’s time to switch up what you are doing.  Try HIIT exercises, or start incorporating weights into your workout.  IF you’re ready to go the extra mile but want someone who is knowledgeable in fitness to help you, then invest in a trainer.  They are well worth the money and they can hold you accountable to what you are trying to accomplish.  Whatever form of exercise you are employing, make sure to enlist the help of a friend, or a family member, or a significant other to help CHEER you on along the way.  Rather than going it alone, try having someone in your corner who will be there to help you when you want to quit, who will be there to celebrate your wins, and who will be there when you stumble back into old habits along the way.

Lastly, please, please, please, remember that results will NOT be attained overnight.  Rome was not built in a day nor will your ideal body be created overnight.  It will take dedication, consistency, sacrifice, and determination to achieve your health and wellness goals.  But you CAN do it.  You CAN eat healthier, you CAN exercise, you CAN become the best version of yourself.  Stick with it.  It will be hard at times, but it will be worth it in the end.  It will be painful at times, but it will be worth it in the end.  It will challenge you at your core, but YOU ARE WORTH IT in the end!