I know there are a ton of people planning on losing
weight in 2012. I want to share a few thoughts on it.
I am not an expert on weight loss. I am an expert on my own weight loss. I won’t claim to know what works for everyone else. I am writing this post to share what has worked for me. I hope that if you apply it in your own weight loss journey you will find it helpful.
I am going to share the number one key to any fat burning diet, weight loss program, diet or whatever you want to call it. If you look at the testimonials on TV the web or anywhere else, you will find successful people generally on any number of famous diet programs. The most irritating thing about those commercials, “anyone can do it.” Now I know there is truth in that statement, but we all know it is not that simple.
Expert on weight loss
Readers of my blog know that I push “Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle.” That is not the point of this post. There are many great diet programs out there. The program is not the key. In theory weight loss is very simple. Notice I said simple, not easy. Nearly all weight loss operates on the principle of a calorie deficit. If you create a calorie deficit you will lose weight. There are other techniques that will maximize fat loss, such as macronutrient profile, and exercising at the ideal time, six meals a day and on and on.
None of those are the key to successful weight loss. They are all important factors, but they are not the foundation. I hate to tell you this but without the proper foundation you will fail no matter how great the diet.
Most diets do not focus enough on this key foundation. That’s because these companies are there to make money. That’s what business is all about. As long as there are some successes for testimonials, they are fine with everyone else who yoyos. Maintenance customers are not as valuable.
For me I went to Weight Watchers the first time at about 13. I lost a great deal of weight and went on with my life. Within a couple years I was fat again. Since then I have revisited weight watchers 2 or 3 times, each time the same story. For me personally it always felt like a temporary pain that I had to go through and then when it was over I’d go directly back to my old ways.
In my opinion that is because of mindset. Mindset is the true key to losing weight and keeping it off. I’m not talking about that temporary motivation that sounds like “I’m going to lose weight in 2012.” You know the type that wears off by about February.
I’m talking about truly changing your mindset permanently. Stop thinking fat. Picture the new you. It sounds like some kind of fluff. That a weight loss guru spouts off to sell her latest crap book. I assure you it is not. Your mindset is the most important part. It is the foundation and the key to success in any diet program you choose.
You need to change your way of thinking in a major way. There will be plateaus, there will be gains. It is just the nature of the beast. These are the times when that mindset and the resolve that comes with it will be the only thing that can save you.
I’m sure many of you can remember those times when you worked hard all week. Ate right, did everything right only to get on the scale and see a gain. It’s like getting punched in the gut. Sometimes this can go on for weeks. The first and easiest reaction is to give up and say screw it. Here comes the yoyo.
This is the time to reach deep and count on your will to keep going. If you have laid that foundation properly you will be able to stay on track. You know that your goal is the only possible outcome.
I have been going through some doubts myself lately. I have lost about 120 pounds. Believe me it is getting more difficult. I don’t see those three or four pound weeks that I used to. However I know where this journey ends, so I will push on.
Things in life will get in your way too. That’s my problem lately I am an emotional eater. I recently resorted to that. I took a week or two and ate like a pig. I never lost focus on my goal. You see when you have the right mindset you can even take a minor detour here and there. I upped my exercise to compensate for my eating. After two weeks I am happy to report a gain of two or three pounds.
I just got off the scale and I have already lost the gain plus 2 pounds. You see that mindset turns roadblocks into speed bumps. You may slow down temporarily, but once you’re over it floor it and just like that you’re back on track and kicking fat in the ass once again.
This may sound like bullshit. I’m telling you it is not. I have been fat most of my life. In elementary school I had bigger boobs than the teachers. I have been up and down up and down over the years. I didn’t have the right mindset.
I’m not saying anyone can do it if I can. The truth is you probably won’t. That’s just the way it seems to be. If you let doubts linger you probably will fail. The mindset overpowers doubts. This shit is not easy.
