A Beginners Guide to Weight Loss

..... because your day one, shouldn't be a struggle.

Many people will say at some point in the lives they want to shed some pounds, and that's great. But as many people that start the process, almost the same amount of people give up or fall off the wagon and stay there. Why? It was just too damn hard... or complicated.

There is so much information out there on weight loss, different diets, supplements, restrictions, eat this.. not that, opinions .. you name it, that it becomes complicated and confusing.

So I'm here to simplify this for you. The decision to lose weight is a personal one, and a commitment that only you can hold yourself accountable to. Yeah, you might be doing it as a group, or with a buddy , or have a trainer but ultimately the choices you make in your weight loss journey are yours and yours alone. Whatever effort you put in, is what rewards you'll reap. You are responsible for your outcome. That being said, it doesn't need to be complicated.

Change Your Mindset

Weight loss starts with your mindset. Read that again.

You may want to lose weight, you may be thinking about starting a program, but if you are not ready to work hard, make changes and are resistant to the process, it's not going to happen. You must be mentally ready, because reality check - your weight loss journey is going to require the mental stamina to go through the ups, downs and plateaus.

When I started my weight loss journey, it was in the middle of counselling - the light bulb went on when I realized I had to deal with how I thought, and how I perceived things. The "all or nothing" mindset was also killer. I used to feel that if I didn't see results that I wanted right away, it wasn't happening - I'd quit. I had to learn patience and to trust the process. Once I dealt with the mental shit traps and lifting beliefs about myself that held me back, my mind was ready to accept the changes I was going to make. Ditch your unrealistic expectations that you have about losing weight. Forget the ads and quick fixes, because those only bring temporary results. It takes time, and requires patience.

Small Changes Add Up

If you're the type that becomes overwhelmed quickly, start small. Don't think you need to change every single eating habit all at once. That can become overwhelming, and eventually the mental exhaustion of keeping up with that high level of commitment right away takes over. Start with one change at a time. Sometimes making all the changes at once can become overwheming. Start with adding a vegetable at every meal, increasing your water intake - having a glass before each meal, adding 30 minutes of activity somewhere in your day, skipping dessert - any small thing to start. The following week, add in something else. Building healthy habits takes time, and permanent change doesn't happen over night.

Find An Activity You Love

Some people find exercise daunting. Many hate it. Lack of exercise is often driven by lack of confidence in the individual that they "can't do it", or will look stupid. However, moving your body intentionally and getting regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, and a part of the weight loss journey. No one says you have to find the most expensive fitness facility and buy the most expensive personal trainer package, but definitely find some type of activity that brings you joy. There are literally thousands of different online, workout at home programs - boutique gyms, and dance fitness studios that offer many different options other than walking on a boring treadmill. Get outside if it's nice -go biking, walking, hiking or for a swim. Once you find an activity you love, change it up and try something else that's new. Usually once you've pushed passed through the anxiety of working out, and develop a routine - you'll crave different challenges because you'll feel good about moving your body, and more confident.

Keep Showing Up .... FOR YOU!!

It doesn't matter if you had one meal that was off your nutrition plan, or even an entire day. Life happens, and your weight loss journey is no different. That one-off of eating a donut, or extra glass of wine at dinner isn't going to ruin your progress. A whole week of your vacation on an all inclusive resort full of food and booze isn't going to completely derail your progress either. Life needs balance, and you need to be kind to yourself during those hard times and know that what matters is that you are going to show up for yourself and get back on track.

Be committed to keep showing up, even after you feel like you failed. Remember earlier when I talked about the "all or nothing" mindset shit trap??? This is it right here, the biggest killer of progress. I've been there and done that. Don't throw the towel in on your hard work, because of your perception of failure. Come back the next day, ready to go again.

If you feel like you need someone to talk to about starting your weight loss journey, I am here for you. Feel free to reach out!

xoxo

Amanda