Do you find yourself moving from one weight loss plan to another? Each time you join up to a new plan you are initially excited about, saying to yourself that "This is the one!," do you then find yourself despondent with the lack of energy and inability to adhere to each strict diet regime?
Part of the weight loss journey is learning to deal with obstacles and setbacks.
It is important to know this upfront: your ability to handle obstacles is directly related to your weight loss success!
It would be great if we could just follow a diet plan and have nothing but smooth sailing but that's not how it works. There are always unexpected issues that arise, no matter whether you become a hermit and shun yourself from every function and dinner party so you will not be tempted, or try and live your life as normal as possible.
Perhaps you can relate to Helen that shared with me recently:
Hi I am feeling hopeless. I am 56 yrs old, post menopausal and helpless. I am on hypertension medical treatment and cholesterol pills. My doctor advised me to start on a diet but I am out of control. I followed a program for a little while but nothing changed.
When I asked Helen how long she tried the program for and she responded four days!!
The road to success is full of bumps and dips. Helen gave up after the first bump, and that was after just four days.
What is your time frame when you give up? How many bumps do you encounter before you stop whatever program you are following before you decide that the program has failed you, when really, perhaps it is you that has failed, and not the program.
After working with people trying to lose weight over the years I have found that there are two types of people in my programs. When challenges or blimps appear in their quest to lose weight they respond in one of the following ways:
1. They take the blimp or challenge as a sign that they're not doing things "right," or that they weren't "meant" to do, be, or have the thing they're working for. They say things to themselves like, "I knew this wouldn't work." "Why did I even bother?" or "I would rather be happy and eat what I like rather than irritable when trying to lose weight?" or "What's wrong with me?"
2. The second group greets challenges as a sign they're growing, and while they might not be ecstatic to face a setback, they respond with thoughts like, "I'm getting there... " "This was a lot easier this time around," and "Other women were able to lose weight what I can do if I follow their plan when they had a blimp. What can I learn?"
Which one sounds more like you?
Now, if the statements in the first category are a little too familiar, don't worry. I would say that most women start there, deep in self sabotage, wondering why they cannot stick to each diet plan they are following, instead taking control and getting the results they are looking for.
Truth time.
When I was overweight I surrendered to my family that this was me now and you had better get used to it. I was not only overweight but I was also (looking back) a nightmare to live with. I was tired all the time, grumpy, irritable, suffered aches and pains, and was full of self loathing. I was a nightmare to live with and most probably not fun to be around with my friends either.
I jumped from diet to another, afraid to commit to one course of action 100%. I saw the success of people around me, and instead of it allowing it to inspire me, it made me depressed and even a little angry.
I thought there was some "secret" to maintaining a healthy weight that everyone else had but me. I tried eating only whole grains, only organic, gluten free, then it would be dairy free, then sugar free (let's face it that one is so overused. Sugar free, but full of another "sugar" boy I was deceived on that one).
I rationalized with each plan I followed this was the one. If I just followed one more plan... tried one more latest fad... followed one more guru... then someday maybe I'd be a weight loss success story.
Maybe you can relate.
But you know what?
I was wrong. Really, really wrong.
There is no "silver bullet" to weight loss success. You can't buy it, or "discover" it, or find it through hiring the right coach or magically "manifesting" it.
It took a devastating personal revelation shook me to the core that turned my life around. It was one photo that did it for me. I will not delve into my personal journey here but If you would like to know more about my revelation on my weight loss journey CLICK HERE.
In the middle of my devastating discovery, I made a decision:
I wouldn't wait for the magic bullet anymore. It simply did not exist. I could no longer try one plan for a couple of days and give up. I had to find a plan that I could relate to and this time I was ready for action. I was also ready for obstacles that would come my way and decided that I would hit them head on.
At that point, I committed mentally to doing whatever it took to create the life I'd imagined for myself.
And I did it...
But...
That decision to adopt a positive mindset was an important first step, but it wasn't enough.
I needed more: I needed a PLAN. I needed a GUIDE. And I needed HABITS AND ROUTINES to get me where I wanted to go.
One you have the right system of goals, habits, routines and mindset, your life can become an amazing experience.
Your SUCCESSFUL weight loss journey....
....starts with a decision.. is then guided by a framework...which is then transformed from a "dream" to a "reality" through working your routines and habits.
If you're ready to make a decision to and then act on that new mindset, you're going to need some guidance.
Many people share with me the frustration of why does society put so much focus on weight loss and that we should be comfortable in our bodies and not be shamed into having to lose weight.
That is fine up to a certain point.
But I know from my own personal experience, as well as that of many of my clients, that not only did I lost weight but also aches and pains disappeared, sleep patterns improved, energy levels increased, skin conditions cleared.
We are just a few short weeks from the end of the year, and the beginning of what could be the best year of your life.
Why not start now?
Julie Dargan (RN, ND, BHSc) is the Menopause Whisperer. She assists women going through hormonal changes and want to live each day with confidence and enthusiasm. Her website was created to help women understand the menopause and how to halt the middle age spread. She also shares FREE 5 Day Guide To Help You Lose Weight In The Menopause.
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