Understand and Conquer Your Weight-Loss Goals

Do you ever feel like all you’re doing is stalling on your weight-loss journey? That can be incredibly disheartening - something you don’t want to feel when trying to make a meaningful change in your life. So let’s take a step back and really look at why you’re on this journey and how you can understand and conquer your weight-loss goals.

We’ll begin by looking at the power of planning. Making time for yourself is essential when it comes to weight-loss; think about what it is you need to do and when you’re realistically able to do it. Schedule it in and plan for it as if you were, say, planning to attend a work meeting. Make a plan that’s realistic and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t as stick to it perfectly.

Next, let’s focus on moment-to-moment awareness. Ask yourself if you’re truly hungry when you’re about to eat something. Check in with how you feel and if your body is asking for nourishment in that moment. Being mindful of what it is you’re putting into your body and approaching it with curiosity is so important to ensure that it will help move you forward on your weight-loss journey.

Now that you’ve become more acutely aware, take a look at a few of the physical and emotional triggers that might be causing you to lose focus. Maybe you’ve started to think that watching those motivational videos online will work, but the actual physical and emotional changes won’t come until you start taking action. Is there someone in your life that makes you feel like you won’t reach your goals? Is there a particular emotion that you feel or a place that makes you feel like your cravings are winning? Whenever you start to reach for something that’s not on your “forbidden” food list, stimulate your senses and be more aware of how you feel.

Now that you’ve taken inventory of what’s been causing you to lose focus, let’s focus on a few proactive steps that can help you achieve your weight-loss goals. It's time to empower yourself and make an effort to stick with it. Make sure to make small changes in your lifestyle that you can easily implement in your day-to-day routine. Aim for a healthier diet, increased physical activity, and better sleep.

Switching gears, let’s look at how to set realistic expectations. Get into the habit of building yourself up, both physically and mentally when tackling your weight-loss goals. Instead of comparing yourself to unrealistic standards, focus on what you can do right now to become the best version of yourself. Trust the process and you’ll find yourself reaching your goals in no time.

Now let's delve deeper into understanding and conquering your weight-loss goals. To get the ball rolling, begin by reorganizing your lifestyle and begin making healthier choices. Assess your eating habits and determine which foods need to be replaced with healthier options; when you make healthier decisions, it can very well decrease cravings and increase energy levels. To supplement this, start moving more and get enough rest. Exercise and adequate sleep help to keep energy levels in check and also help to promote better focus. 

From there, create an action plan that you can stick to on a daily basis. Consider it an overall game plan from which you can build or add on to as you reach milestones. Having a plan and setting schedules will help hold you accountable, drive focus, and make it easier to track your progress. In this manner, it will become easier to identify which areas you need to work on and provide opportunities for those moments when motivation needs to be replenished.

Incidentally, having a support system is highly beneficial when striving towards weight-loss goals. Your support system needs to be made up of people that understand you, offer inspiration and cheer you on while you strive to reach a particular goal. They don’t need to necessarily be a part of your weight-loss journey, but rather, people that want the best for you and can be great source of motivation and strength.

Find stories of other people skating through hardships, books and podcasts to foster a positive mental attitude and activities that require hard work. All of these sources can ultimately help you stay focused and remind you why you started in the first place.

Next, let’s talk about the psychological stresses that can be uncomfortable when striving for a weight-loss goal. Find out what’s the one thing you’re holding onto that makes you feel uncomfortable and try and practice the ability to let go. Whether it be the fear of failing or being judged, letting go of worries will make achieving your goals much easier. You can facedown fear and negative feelings by working on and changing perspectives. 

Now comes identity transformation. Allow yourself to look beyond labels and recognize that you are more than your weight-loss journey. Identity transformation isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s the gradual process of separating one’s identity from the person that started the weight-loss journey and the person that is currently on it. Believe in yourself, learn to love yourself, and any changes you make will be deeper and more lasting.

Moving on, mindset reprogramming is a great technique for weight-loss. Question your beliefs when it comes to food and weight-loss, and reframe them. Don’t give up if something negative pops into your head. Find out what negative beliefs that are holding you back, what could you replace them with, and try and figure out why the negative thought was ever there.

On top of that, don’t forget to correctly calculate your calorie intake. Your body needs the correct amount of calories for it to properly function, and it helps to consult a nutritionist for advice if possible. From there, an appropriate amount of calories can be determined and balanced with an effective exercise program. Also, try set time aside for daily planning, such as nutritionally balanced meals or workout plans that can be done within the same day.

Lastly, it’s important to never let a bad day alter your goals. World events, the economy, and other external factors can throw us off our weight-loss journey. Even setbacks can be weirdly motivating if we take the time to learn from them, but don’t worry if setbacks happen - it’s completely normal. Use any setback as an opportunity to draw a lesson from it and make positive changes in how you approach your weight-loss journey. 

The science of weight-loss inevitably suggests that success comes from hard work, dedication and most importantly, consistency. The journey will not be easy, and there will be challenging moments. However, with the right approach, you can instill realistic habits that will stay with you for a lifetime. 

At the end of the day, make sure that you do the best that you possibly can. Any progress is progress, and it’s important to give yourself credit for it. Focus on the way you feel, how you look and how you’re spending time with your loved ones. Believe that you have what it takes and together, we can help you understand and conquer your weight-loss goals!