Health & Fitness

Healthy Weight Loss

I know this a touchy subject, however I am not afraid to speak on touchy issues. It seems as if everyone wants to lose weight but not everyone wants to do the work that it requires. Losing weight is different for everyone. One of the keys is to figure out why you want to lose weight and set goals based on your personal expectations.

Of course we run into people who can easily lose weight whether they want to or not and others for whom it is a constant struggle. What a lot of us don’t seem to understand is that we are all made genetically different so everything we do will not be the same as the person next to us.

Another thing that seems difficult to understand is that not everyone who is thin is thin by choice and not everyone who is overweight gain the weight on purpose or because of poor diet. Some people are genetically thin and others are genetically predisposed to gaining a little more weight. There are so many diseases people have and medications that they are taking that are causing them to either lose weight or gain weight (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism being one of them). I cannot even begin to list all the different reasons people are losing and gaining weight aside of simply poor diet. Poor diet is usually the number one answer we come up with because it is easier to understand and notice, if it is the case.

Since I embarked on my healthy life journey I also embarked on a journey of research to seek more understanding in regards to my genetic makeup and what I can do on my part to make things better for me.  We are humans, there is a point where we, for one reason or another, compare ourselves to our neighbors and intentionally or not, try to become one of the Joneses. When it comes to my health, I am selfish. I make it all about me and no one else. I learn to embrace the fact that I am my own person and I have to do what is best for ME.

Before you decide to lose weight think about the reasons you want to lose the weight and take time to experiment in order to find out at what weight is your body the happiest in all aspects. I mentioned this in a previous article that I found out through experimenting, that my body is happiest when my weight is around 120-125 pounds. We all have a range at which our bodies are happy and functions to its full potential. So, find out what your range is and try to lose weight to get there. Losing weight should not be to look like some airbrushed woman on TV or your neighbor. It should be for YOU.

 


Keep the following in mind when you are deciding to lose weight

 

Is losing weight a need or a want for YOU?:

  • The answer to this question will help set realistic goals when it comes to losing the weight. If it is simply a want, then you may have to ask yourself, ” why do I want to lose weight”?  If it is a need, meaning you are overweight or obese, then there are different goals to set and more effort to put in.  Everything is based on the amount of pounds you want or need to lose. Of course, the more pounds, the more work you have to do. for me, losing weight has been a want. There are times when I past 125 pounds and I had to decided I want to lose the few extra pounds so I can go back to my happy range. There was a time I was 130lbs. At that point, it was a need. I was well above my range. My body was not very happy neither was I. I know you are probably thinking, losing 5 pounds is not big deal and 130lbs is not bad. When you consider my height and BMI, I can only gain so much weight before it becomes an issue. Again, everyone’s body is different and there is a lot more factors when deciding to lose weight than just shedding pounds off. As I mentioned earlier, we all are different and our bodies were made differently, so you really have to take yourself into consideration and no one else should be part of the equation when you decide to lose weight.

Set realistic expectations and goals

  • Be real with the goals you want or need to set for yourself. I mean, give yourself effective time frames to meet your goals. Don’t set yourself up for failure by trying to lose 30 pounds in a week. Most likely, you did not gain 30 pounds in a week. Set realistic goals and expectations by allowing the proper amount of time to reach your goals. Going back to each person being different, just because someone lost 15 pounds in a short time does not mean you will as well. Again, experiment with yourself and figure out what works for your body. Losing weight is a decision followed by a process. You need to find out the kind of exercises that really help burn the most amount of calories in a specific amount of time and try to do more of those kinds of exercises if you can. Do the research for yourself and find out what you need to do and set your goals to meet your expectations by putting in the work required.

Be patient

  • You did not gain the weight overnight, so you should not expect to lose it overnight either. In our society we are getting use to the ideal of getting things when we want with as little effort on our part as possible. I appreciate technology and the convenience it provides, however, some things just can’t be done without putting in the work. You have to be patient. You have to set goals and keep them. You need to figure out a regimen combination that works for you and that you are capable of doing and stick with it. Being consistent is also a key. There is no such thing as losing weight by going to the gym once in a blue moon or going this week only so you can fit in a dress next week. You also have to keep in mind that you get out what you put in. If you don’t spend time working out and eating well, the result will show just that and nothing more. Be realistic and be patient.

Do the work

  • This is pretty much everybody’s least favorite. I am guilty of wanting things that I am not quite willing to do the work for. If you are not willing to put in the effort, chances are, you don’t want it badly enough. When you want something, really want something, you will do everything it takes to get it. That time I reached 130 pounds, I was determined to lose the extra weight and I did everything in my power to lose it because that is what I really wanted. I set up a gym schedule, I began researching more about the kind of food that I should be eating and I started experimenting with my body to find out what works for me. I also gave myself a reasonable amount of time to reach my goal of going down to 120 pounds. Although I was anxious to lose the pounds, I was also patient knowing that it took time to gain the weight so it will take time to lose it.
  • In the midst of all that, please remember to celebrate the small successes. If you set your goal to lose about 5 pounds in a week or two and in three weeks your only lost three, celebrate that because you are now three pounds lighter than you were. Don’t worry so much about what you did not lose and celebrate what you did lose. Be careful not to get lost in the expectations so much so you forget the small successes along the way. Your weight lost decision is a process of which you are working towards reaching a destination of goals met. You will meet your goals along the way, not when you get there.

You have decided to lose weight because you need to or you want to. There is nothing wrong with that as long as you are doing it for yourself and you are within healthy limits. Keep in mind to set realistic expectations, be patient, and most importantly be willing to do the work.

I am a 26 year-old educator on the run of becoming all that I can in the time that I have. A few years ago, I embarked on a journey filled with spiritual discoveries, healthy habits, and a passion for education stronger than I've ever had. Learning what to do to become a better person have always interest me. One of my passions is to know a little about everything in order to gain the capability of forming my own opinion so others won't have to do it for me. Another passion that was buried deep inside finally came to the surface and allowed me to see the adventurous side of me. I am on a journey to see the world and do things outside of my comfort zone. I will write all about it along the way!

This article has 2 comments

  1. Kelly Santiago

    Yes, you have to be realistic by setting realistic goals and be very patient. It’s always going to be hard at first but once you start and stick to it, when you turnaround to weigh yourself, that’s when the feeling of positive accomplishment kicks in.

  2. Yve

    Kelly,

    You are exactly right. Patient is key. And you need the discipline to stick with it!

    Thanks for reading and sharing,
    Yve

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