But Why Do You Want to Lose Weight?
You may want to lose weight, but ask yourself why? Weight loss should be just a part of a goal in a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, not the only reason for a temporarily healthier lifestyle. It may initially motivate you to make a change, but you’ll need more to reach a goal and sustain your progress. You’ll need to dig a little deeper.
Do you want to lose weight to look better? Most can identify with this. But, If so, WHY do you want to look better? Most likely because of how it makes you FEEL about yourself. Your emotional and mental state can have a profound effects on your physical health and overall wellbeing. Feeling more confident can affect other aspects of your life as well.
Do you want to lose weight because your weight is making you feel uncomfortable in certain clothing, makes it more difficult to accomplish physical activities that used to be easy?
Do you want to lose weight because it is causing health problems that are affecting the quality of your life, or maybe even at risk of reducing your lifespan? Did your doctor suggest that you need to lose weight for your health?
Is your weight affecting your intimate relationship with your partner? Making you feel self conscious in your own skin? Does your partner make comments and suggestions about your weight that make you feel embarrassed, hurt, angry or self conscious?
Maybe your weight is in normal range, but you just want to get leaner, more sculpted and defined because you feel more confident, vibrant and energetic when you’re physique in top condition.
Losing weight is a goal for many, but it’s not a purpose. And if you don’t know WHY, that can hinder your results.
Identifying and focusing on WHY you’re changing your nutrition and or exercise (ideally both) to accomplish goals is important.
If you look at a change as temporary then you’re subconsciously telling yourself this isn’t a lifestyle, it will be over soon and things can go back to “normal” when you reach your goal…back to the habits that didn’t serve you well. So what happens when you reach a plateau or get off track? Do you get frustrated and stop, go back to old habits, gain the weight back and tell yourself “that didn’t work for me” because you didn’t reach your weight loss goal and regained the weight?
And what will happen if/when you reach your goal? Do you keep the healthy lifestyle going, or do you pat yourself on the back for reaching your weight loss goal, then go back to your old habits which will cause you to gain the weight back?
That is why diets don’t work. Anything that lasts must be a healthy sustainable lifestyle. Not losing, going back to old ways, gaining back, starting again, etc. You know…the YoYo dieting. Connecting with why you’re changing your habits will help set you up for long term success.
Have you heard the parable about the three men laying bricks; one man kneeling, one man crouching, and one man (further along) standing?
A man asks the first man, who is kneeling, what he’s doing. The man says “I’m a bricklayer and I’m working to feed my family.” Next, he asks the second man, who was a bit further along, the same question. He replied “I’m a builder, I’m building a wall.” But when he asked the third man, who was much further along than the other two, he replied “I’m building a great cathedral for the Almighty.” Purpose affects attitude and attitude affects productivity and productivity affects outcome. If you’re not connected to the big picture then you can have a bad attitude about the whole process, and the process will definitely affect the outcome.
What is the big picture? YOUR BIG PICTURE? Goals are fine, and serve a purpose. But think beyond a goal and keep the vision of a larger purpose. Connecting to your purpose will help you be more successful, get past obstacles that can cause setbacks and feeling of frustration. It can change a mere interest into a commitment, motivation into inspiration.
Do you want to get leaner, healthier and feel more vibrant? Let’s chat about your goals, targeted solutions to help you achieve them, and maybe discover your WHY. Maybe it’s so you can be more involved with your kids and set a better example. Maybe it’s so that your health doesn’t become a burden to your kids down the road and you want to remain independent. Maybe it’s because you want to feel more comfortable and confident in your own skin. Maybe it’s because you’re just tired of feeling uncomfortable either physically, mentally or both. Maybe it’s because you realize that you have to be more intentional about your lifestyle because you don’t want to age more vibrantly, be active, and not feel old.
Show me someone over forty who is healthy and fit, and I can assure you they made it a priority. You cannot make meaningful and lasting change without making it a priority and a habit. It’s not a punishment or expense. It’s a worthwhile commitment and investment. The habits you commit to now, can profoundly change your health trajectory over time. Focus on what direction you want to go in and WHY.
Be like the cathedral builder, have vision and purpose in your mission, and treat your body like a temple.
