Helpful Lessons You Need To Learn To Lose Weight

Just like many people, I’ve spent a good part of my life wishing I was thinner. However, unlike many people, I’ve managed to shed 50 pounds. All I had to do was learn these five lessons.

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I’ve spent most of my life trying to lose weight. I’ve been excited over dozens of new products, methods or workouts that promise quick results. I’ve also been disappointed to find that none of them worked. I’ve felt scared at the thought of going shopping because I didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror.

The worst came after I had children. My belly got bigger after every baby! After three pregnancies and two C-sections, I found myself 50 pounds overweight and with seriously limited time and budget.

It took me 18 months, and lots of hard work, to lose those 50 pounds. But I did it.

To be honest, I still have some more weight to lose, but I don’t lose sleep over it. I no longer try every crazy diet or product that comes along. Now, I love going shopping and I’m no longer afraid to look at myself in the mirror. My body, my health, and my attitude changed in the course of those 18 months.

These are the lessons I learned in a year and a half of my weight loss journey, and I would like to share them with you. I’m sure they will help you too!

Helpful Lessons You Need to Learn to Lose Weight

1. You need to stop thinking about losing weight

Everyone makes this their resolution every New Year, but it’s not a good goal at all. If your goal is simply to lose weight, then every crazy diet or strange product will seem like a valid solution.

However, if your goal is to be healthier, losing weight will be the result of your new healthy habits.

Your goal should be to change your unhealthy habits for healthy ones. Change your lifestyle and you’ll be happier, healthier, and fitter. And you’ll also lose weight.

Imagine if you started drinking water instead of soda. After that, you could replace junk food with fruit and veggies. You could also start going to bed an hour earlier. And do 30 minutes of exercise instead of spending 30 minutes looking at your Facebook newsfeed.

If you’re consistent, you’ll end up making healthy habits that will improve every aspect of your life. You’ll also lose weight in the process. And perhaps even become more successful. Who knows?

2. You need to feel uncomfortable

In order to change your body and your lifestyle, you’ll have to do things that make you uncomfortable. You’ll have to do scary things, unpleasant things.

You’ll have to forget about your daily dessert, and you’ll have to eat broccoli and spinach. You’ll have to get up early to do exercise or perhaps drag your ass to the gym after work. You’ll have to huff and puff and sweat to get through your workout. You’ll have to learn how to cook instead of ordering takeout every night.

You’ll have to do strange new things because change takes place outside your comfort zone. You’ll never accomplish anything if you always stay in your nice and cozy routine.

You’ll never lose weight if you’re not willing to be uncomfortable.

3. You need to set goals

Many people are scared to death of setting goals, but it’s something you need to do. Perhaps your health and fitness plan isn’t working because you don’t have a goal. Think about this!

Doing things with no pressure will get you nowhere. You’ll never get in shape simply by showing up at the gym to hit the treadmill for an hour. You need to set a goal, like walking a longer distance in less time or doing more reps of an exercise.

Another goal could be to drink more glasses of water until you’re able to drink 8 of them. Or perhaps to eat one more serving of produce until you can have one with every meal. These short-term goals will help you get long-term results.

4. You need to plan and prep

We all know it’s not easy to change bad habits. You know the feeling, right? On the first day, you’re all excited about going to the gym. By the third day, you’re ready to give up on the idea of exercising on a regular basis.

The problem is a lack of planning. Getting organized is the key to success.

If you want to eat healthier, do some food prepping on Sunday and you’ll have veggies ready to eat all week long. If you want to drink more water, get a bottle you can carry around and set a reminder on your phone. If you want to do more exercise, take the time to plan your schedule so you can go to the gym. 

You can take it one small change at a time to keep your daily routine under control, but don’t wing it. Planning is always best.

5. You need to love yourself before you start

You need to love yourself before you even begin a health and fitness program. If you start working out or dieting because you hate your belly, you’ll be easy prey for quick fixes and crash diets. 

You need to love your body as it is right now. It’s wonderful! Your body keeps you on your feet when your tired, it heals when you get sick, and it takes the blow of your stressful days. It’s the only one you’ve got, right?

You’re going to make all those healthy changes just to make your body feel and look its best. 

My momma once told me to take care of myself, because no one else is going to do that for me. Mom is so right about this.  

Stop hurting your body. Don’t starve yourself, don’t binge, don’t drink too much, don’t smoke, don’t stress yourself, don’t sit all day. Give your body the TLC it deserves and you’ll soon feel and look much better.

Take these weight loss lessons to heart

You can’t lose the weight overnight. Quick fixes don’t work. The only way to get fit and healthy is through consistency and determination.

Don’t worry if takes you months or years to get to a healthy weight. Remember your goal should be to set healthy habits for life. That’s the true definition of weight loss success.

You don’t fail until you quit trying!

Have you failed or succeeded at losing weight? Share your experience in the comments!

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