Don’t beat yourself up when losing extra weight
Published 9:35 pm Saturday, March 21, 2015
Are you being gentle with yourself while losing weight? It may be an odd question, as most people approach weight loss like an all-out war. Given how our society approaches “dieting” and weight loss, you almost expect to be worn out, beat up and hungry. It’s certainly a logical perception because there are many battles to win. It’s you against fat, against the impulse to eat poorly and against being sedentary.
It becomes a job. You wake up thinking about what you should — and should not eat. Exercise has to be a priority, whether you want to do it or not. And of course, like any job, you want to measure the effectiveness of your work. In this scenario, it’s pounds lost or looser-fitting clothes.
During this time, it’s easy not to appreciate smaller achievements while awaiting the ultimate goal. But it’s important that you do.
I ran across a meme online that echoes this sentiment, “Don’t wait until you’ve reached your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take toward reaching that goal.”
These little feats may not be much on the surface: You lose one pound, went a week without sweets, or improved your stamina. However, consistency or any progress you’ve managed to make can provide motivation to keep going, never giving up. That’s the point of it all — staying the course.
A wellness manifesto, 101 Revolutionary Ways to be Healthy, which is a product of a health magazine I’ve often cited, also has a couple of pointers about this idea.
No. 19 says to “Fake it till you make it. Even if you have a long way to go, smile through it and celebrate what you have done right.”
Another motivator encourages us to practice mind over matter. No. 91 says, “Visualize the possibilities. What if we lived in a world where the majority of people were healthy and happy most of the time? Imagine that future — then start creating it in your own life, one step at a time.”
All it takes is a series of first steps — literally and figuratively — to see your fitness goals through.