5 Reasons For Losing Weight That Will Make You Fail

I spent a good deal of my life trying to lose weight, and most of that time I failed miserably. Sometimes, I even ended up gaining more weight instead of losing it! Happily, I have finally succeeded in losing more than 50 pounds of stubborn pregnancy weight, and the one thing I had to do was change the reason why I wanted to lose weight in the first place. Don’t believe me? Hear me out.

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Back when I was a teenager with chubby cheeks, I started trying to lose weight. I tried dozens of different diets and workouts, and I felt cheated and exhausted most of the time. To be honest, it seemed like nothing would ever work for me. Has that happened to you?

Having babies made it worse. I’ve always been on the full-figured side, which is fine, but it’s not so nice when that means having a big, huge, wobbly mommy belly. Three pregnancies will do that you. After I had my last baby, I felt and looked a lot like a beached whale. I also felt like crap.

It wasn’t until I realized I was making a huge mistake that I finally managed to shed the extra pounds. It’s a huge one because it sets you on the wrong path from the start, so weight loss always remains a distant dream. In fact, I bet you’ve made the same mistake too.

Don’t Lose Weight For The Wrong Reasons

I was trying to lose weight for the wrong reasons. That’s the big huge mistake I was making. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing to lose weight. If you approach it from the wrong perspective, you’ll never lose a pound. Or you’ll just gain the weight right back. Trust me, this is a real game-changer.

Lose Weight For The Right Reasons

Pick up on the right reasons and you’ll finally achieve your goals. It’s that simple. All you have to do is change your mindset and you’ll have more willpower, more motivation, and more determination than ever. It really works!

So, what are the wrong and right reasons for losing weight? I’ll give you the reasons that never ever worked for me, and the reasons that helped me lose more than 50 pounds.

5 Reasons For Losing Weight That Will Make You Fail

1. To look good in clothes

You want to lose weight to look great in a bikini, or in a little black dress, or in skinny jeans, or whatever. I’m sorry, but that’s not going to take you far. As soon as you encounter the first obstacle, the first craving, or the first day of muscle soreness, you’ll start thinking you feel pretty comfortable in yoga pants. You’ll start thinking you don’t need to look good in bikini to be happy after all.

And you know what? You’re absolutely right! You don’t need skinny jeans to be happy, and all you need to get a bikini body is to put a bikini on your body. Who needs to wear tight, sexy clothes? Nobody! All you need is another serving of ice cream and then you’ll be happy.

See what I mean? Clothes are not a good enough motivation, so just forget about that.

2. To be more attractive

You want to lose weight to look prettier. Maybe because you don’t like what you see in the mirror, or maybe because somebody told you that if you just lost a few pounds, you would look so much prettier.

In all honesty, whoever told you that deserves to get slapped in the face. That person is not your friend. You’re already beautiful, exactly as you are right now, chubby cheeks and all. The people who truly love you don’t care in the least what you look like because they can see what a wonderful person you are. You don’t need to slim down to be beautiful.

This is also a bad reason to lose weight because it’s a blow to your self-esteem and your confidence. As soon as you give in to the smallest craving, you’ll start beating yourself up for making a mistake. This also won’t take you far. You’ll just end up quitting and feeling even worse than before.

3. To get your body back

You want to lose weight to be as slim as you used to be when you were 20 years old, before you had babies and before you had that wobbly belly. Who doesn’t want to be 20 years old again?

This is a really bad reason for losing weight, because it’s just never going to happen. You’re never getting your 20-year-old body back, even if you starve yourself to death, because you’re no longer 20 years old. Your body has gone through massive internal changes, and it’s impossible to turn back time. Sorry, but you can’t get your old body back.

However, it’s possible to improve on the body you have now. In fact, it’s possible to have a fitter, stronger body now than when you were 20 years old. You can’t turn back the clock, but you can make the present better.

4. To look good for a big event

Your best friend’s wedding is coming up, and you want to look good in a dress. Or maybe you want to look good for that beach vacation, or for your high school reunion. You’ve neglected your body for years, but you want to be hot and toned in a matter of weeks just to have everyone say how great you look.

You do realize that’s a crazy dream, right? You can’t undo years of damage in a few days, even if somebody claims you can. This is a terrible reason for losing weight because it makes it valid to resort to desperate, last-ditch remedies that might do more harm than good. You might lose a few pounds, but you’ll gain the weight right back, and then some.

Juice cleanses, body wraps, diet pills, weight loss shakes, and any other fantastic product you find online is only going to have a temporary effect, if any. Afterwards, you’ll be right back where you started. This doesn’t put you on a healthy path, it just damages your body even more.

5. To look like an Instagram fitness model

It’s a really dumb reason, I know. But I’m sure we’ve all thought about it. After looking at all those pictures of incredibly slim and toned models, everyone starts thinking that’s what people should look like. It’s like mind wash.

Obviously, this is the worst reason to lose weight, because those pictures aren’t even real. Those models have an entire crew to assist with the pictures so they’ll achieve that perfect look. And the pictures are also photoshopped to make the models look even thinner than they really are. It’s all fake.

You may think you’re not the kind of person to fall into this trap, but those images are designed to get into your head. They set an unattainable standard. Slowly, you start thinking you should lose more weight than might be healthy for you. It’s like I said, mind wash.

5 Reasons For Losing Weight That Will Motivate You

The point here is that simply losing weight is not the best objective to have. On the other hand, getting fit and healthy is a worthier goal.

There are some really good reasons for getting fit that have nothing to do with looking great in clothes. The minute I set these reasons in my head, I started taking my health and fitness journey very seriously.

Whenever you feel like skipping the gym or like getting another slice of pie, think about these good reasons for staying on track.

1. To be healthier

It’s not secret that exercising, eating healthy, and losing the extra pounds will improve your health in many ways- it will lower you cholesterol levels and blood pressure, prevent diabetes and strokes, reduce cancer risk, and boost your immune system. According to a study by the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University in St Louis, losing even just 5% of body weight makes you healthier.

This reason really hits home for me. I watched someone I loved die of diabetes, heart disease, and other obesity-related problems before the age of 60. Think about your quality of life. You don’t want to have a chronic illness just a few years down the line, do you?

2. To be stronger

According to Douglas Paddon-Jones, PhD, a professor in the department of nutrition and metabolism at The University of Texas Medical Branch, after the age of 30 you start gradually losing muscle mass and bone density. This will make your body weaker and prone to injuries and weight gain. The best way to stay strong is to do exercise and eat more protein. That means working out and eating right.

I know what I’m talking about here. I have a family history of osteoporosis and arthritis. My mother is in her mid-60s and her arms hurt when lifting up a cooking pot full of water. That makes me think about what staying strong means. I want to be able to play with my children and grandchildren, and I sure don’t want to end up in a wheelchair when I’m older. Do you?

3. To feel better

Exercising and eating healthy will make you feel like a million dollars. According to researchers at the University of Georgia, it will ease stress and anxiety, relieve chronic pain, and give you an endorphin rush so that you will be in a better mood all day. Also, achieving your health and fitness goals will make you more confident and you’ll feel happier and more comfortable in your own skin, no matter what your weight is.

Remember how I used to feel like a beached whale? No more! I now feel younger and more energized. Exercise has also helped me through depression and stress-induced migraine. This is the best motivation to never miss a workout.

4. To set a good example

Do you want your kids to grow up and start hating their bodies? I’m sure the answer is no. The best way to teach them to love and take care of themselves is by setting an example. If kids see mommy and daddy exercising and eating healthy, they’ll be more likely to lead a healthy lifestyle too.

Since I started exercising, my husband has also caught on and my kids too. My 2-year-old little girl loves working out with me and having chia pudding for dessert. Kids really do learn from example. Whenever you feel like quitting, remember that a pair of little eyes are watching you. 

5. To feel empowered

Getting fit and healthy will make you feel empowered. You see, improving your life and your physical fitness is also a mental challenge. By embarking on a health and fitness journey, you will also learn to control your thoughts, your feelings, and your impulses. By achieving your health and fitness goals and surpassing your limits, you’ll realize all that you are capable of.

There was a time when I just couldn’t do a sit up, and now I can do them with ease. I can also do 60 burpees in one minute. There is nothing out there that can stop me, only myself. Start getting fit and healthy, and you’ll see that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Love Yourself

Looking good in clothes, looking more attractive, looking like a fitness model, looking good for your high school reunion- all these are shallow and hopeless reasons for losing weight. They do not encourage you to love your body, but rather fuel disgust and low self-esteem.

Being healthier and stronger, feeling better and empowered- those are excellent reasons for getting fit and healthy and fuel the love for yourself and your body.

If you get fit and healthy for the right reasons, you’ll love the image that stares back at you from the mirror, no matter what your weight is. I bet you’ll even throw out your scale! Weight does not define you, but a fit and healthy body will improve your life like you have no idea.

And FYI, you should really love and take care of your body, because it’s the only one you’ll ever have. Are you ready to start?

Do you have a powerful reason to get fit and healthy? I’d love it if you shared it in the comments!