We often begin our weight loss journey with enthusiasm and energy. But what happens when the journey is longer than expected? Or the goal seems to be moving away more quickly than we can move toward it? The great majority of those who have lost weight and kept it off, didn’t do so on their first attempt. The ups and downs of weight loss are so erratic for many people that it’s easy to be discouraged.
Weight loss is as much about mindset as technique. Many who achieve and maintain their weight loss goals report that they have changed not only in body size but also by finding strength, perseverance, and determination they didn’t know they had. Resiliency isn’t just an innate strength of a lucky few. You can become more resilient in the journey of weight loss—and in life.
Since it’s National Roller Coaster Day, here are a few tips to get off the emotionally and physically exhausting weight loss roller coaster.
1. Prepare ahead of time for difficult situations.
Anticipate that challenging situations will arise. Almost every week is a birthday party, unhealthy temptations, or busy workdays at home or the office. Be proactive and decide ahead of time how you will handle the situation. Treat any setbacks as learning opportunities to help you move forward in the future.
2. Know and trust your own strengths.
Think about past successes in other challenging areas of your life. Identify the strengths that got you through them and apply those strengths to your weight loss journey. Write down your successes and strengths today, and when you begin to doubt yourself, reread them for encouragement.
3. Change your thinking.
Stop making the scale the sole judge of your success. Instead, think about how energized you feel after Oxycise, or how you no longer get winded going up the stairs, or when your significant other starts noticing the difference. These are motivation-boosting milestones on your weight loss journey.
4. Argue against your inner critic, and truly intend to win.
When we were children, we couldn’t talk back to the people who were criticizing us. Now that we’re adults, it’s time to talk back to the inner critic. Write down one of its typical lines (for example, “You have no willpower”) and then write down three or more believable rebuttals, such as times when you showed strong willpower.
5. Find a cheerleader.
When it comes to weight loss, having just one supportive, significant person in your life is essential. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or spouse, receiving encouragement from someone who believes in you will help you achieve your goals. If you don’t have a cheerleader in your real life, you’ll find plenty of support in the Oxycise! Facebook Community.
Successful, sustained weight loss is rarely achieved without setbacks and plateaus – it’s achieved despite setbacks and plateaus. Dealing with and accepting the disappointment of the scale not going in the direction you hope, or as fast as you would like, is important if you’re going to make it to the end goal. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
