This Program May Work!
Photo by Jan Sedivy on Unsplash
It’s up to you.
We are now in what I would call “weight loss season.” Having worked at WW for nine of these, and having personal experience with losing weight and keeping it off, I have a lot of opinions about this (SHOCKING I know!).
On the one hand, it is an arbitrary date that many people wait for while simultaneously giving themselves a pass on some undesirable behaviors until the new year arrives.
On the other hand, why not use a new year as a time for a fresh start? I love a good program, and there are many to choose from, especially with all the promos and advertising in January.
Let’s say that you have decided to start a structured weight loss program, meaning that you are, at the very least, paying for the premium version of a food tracking app. Every program focuses primarily on how/what/when you should eat. You may be counting points, calories, or macros. There will be “lists” of foods that are encouraged or discouraged, menus, recipes and meal plans. There will be targets to hit among these variables, and programs with entire food groups off limits.
I think that this phase can be very helpful as you get your feet under you. Often there is some quick weight loss at the front end of any program, which is encouraging. Additionally, paying attention to what you are eating and having a system for tracking is always beneficial.
And then…we head towards mid February or thereabouts, the weight loss has slowed and the bloom is off the rose. Social situations have come up, the program starts to feel burdensome, you are tired of eating this way, maybe your schedule shifts because the schools are reopened (we can hope!), you slowly stop following the program.
How can you move away from program fatigue and into a space of power at this moment? How can you keep yourself moving forward? How can you make a program work for you, instead of squeezing yourself into its’ confines?
Here are ten suggestions:
Write down 10 reasons you want to make these changes. Keep your list handy and use it when you feel like quitting, or when you need to restart after a meal, day, week or month where you have gotten off track (and expect this…).
Every two weeks set 3 teeny tiny goals for yourself that you are confident you can achieve. They may or may not be related to food. Prioritizing sleep, water, and more vegetables can be great places to start.
Pay attention to how you feel physically. If you are hungry, tired, irritable, or consistently feeling deprived, you either need to tweak your program, or find a new one. Do not quit. Experiment.
Make yourself your first priority. Easier said than done I know, but if you do not prioritize yourself, no one will.
Be open to new learnings about yourself. Being honest about my problem with sugar was a game changer for me.
Quit making excuses. Problem solve and follow through like a grown up.
Emotional eating takes a LONG time to shift but like anything, it’s possible with consistent effort.
Approach your wellness like it is your JOB. Collect data, experiment, use rewards.
Every frustration or setback is simply practice for learning how deal better the next time that situation comes around.
Shower yourself with kindness and patience. Treat your body with reverence.
It’s time to stop believing that if you change what you eat, you will change your life. Instead believe that you are going to change how you live, and changing your relationship with food is part of that.
