Is losing weight an all-consuming issue for you where yo yo up and down, or you criticize your body for being too big, too flabby or not shapely enough?
If you are someone who wants to lose weight, I’d like to share with you some things I’ve learned as a health coach. There are many misconceptions about the best way to lose weight, in when you follow them, you might lose weight but you’ll gain it all back again. Sound familiar?
Well, I don’t want that to happen to you again. Here are a couple of myths that may be sabotaging your weight loss:
MYTH #1IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT IT, WEIGHT LOSS WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY.
Believing this is one of the fastest ways to get discouraged and give up. If you are overweight, did it all happen in a month? Or two months? Let’s say you are 50 pounds overweightThink about when you gained that weight - it likely occurred over a period of years, not months. The same is true for lasting weight loss - you need to expect gradual, steady progress, not miracle weight loss. Successful weight loss only comes from long term attention to eating simple whole foods, exercising, managing your stress and getting enough rest. These are the magic bullets that will make weight loss successful.
MYTH #2LOW CARB AND LOW FAT WILL DROP THE POUNDS
The problem with this statement is that not all carbs and fats are equal. Some are essential while others will cause weight gain. Did you know that vegetables and fruits and whole grains are carbs? These carbs are nutrient-dense and give you the energy to get out exercising and moving your body. You need these kind of carbs and you need quality fats like avocado, olive oil, nuts and lean protein.
MYTH #3ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS WILL SAVE ME SOME CALORIES
Do NOT believe this. When your brain senses something sweet, it will activate the sugar-stabilizing enzymes in your body. Since there is no real sugar going into your bloodstream, you will have excess enzymes that will trigger a craving for sweets. Here's a reference that backs this up
I think the takeaway for this is you need to be patient. If you are overweight and decide to lose weight, here are my recommendations for success:
- start a journal. Write down what you weigh and how much weight you would like to lose. Be realistic and maybe think about what you weighed when you felt your best.
- write down what will be different for you when you lose weight- create a vision that includes the whole process, not just the end point
- stop criticizing your body and appreciate all it does for you
- remind yourself when you get discouraged that it is a process and you can do it. Do not “try” to lose weight; PLAN to lose weight.
- one client said to me: “ I really never knew that eating healthy would feel so good and would keep me from craving the junk I used to eat. ” She’s right.