Making major lifestyle changes
is always a tough feat to accomplish. Whether you're adopting a brand new diet,
trying to get eight hours of sleep a night, or giving up alcohol for the first
time, shifting to a brand new habit is far from easy. The same goes for losing
weight. When you're trying to shed excess pounds, it often all boils down to
a culmination of everyday choices we make. And we all know that those
daily habits are the hardest ones to keep.
My weight has fluctuated over
the years, but 2017 was finally the year when my weight-loss efforts stuck.
I'm sure it was due to a combination of smart choices, like eating a
plant-based diet and strength training more often, but much of my
success can be attributed to one piece of weight-loss advice that
made it so much easier to reach my goals: ignore everyone.
This may sound unconventional
and perhaps a little wacky, but trust me, when implemented in a smart way, this
instruction will give you all the tools you need to reach your own goals. Here
are three reasons why this advice has helped me so much in the past.
People Will Always Comment on Your
Weight-Loss Efforts
When you change up your diet
or fitness routine, these changes ripple out and affect other parts of your
life. Your friends and family will notice that you're eating differently and
that you're spending more time at the gym. Because they love you (and because
they think they know what's best for you), they will
probably make remarks here and there about the changes they see.
They mean well, but they'll
likely say the wrong things to you at some point. They'll probably tell you
that you need to eat bigger portions, that you don't really need to lose weight
in the first place, or that you're no longer any fun because you turned down
that one dessert. It can be really hard to stick to your guns and take care of
yourself when you have all these opinions flying in from various directions.
Just remember that it's not their choice what your portion sizes are or which
dessert you choose to eat.
I learned this past year that
you can't listen to any of this crap. Other people will see and interpret
things in their own way, based on their own experiences and judgements. You
don't have to base any of your choices on anyone's point of view. The moment
you let someone else sway your decision making is the moment you get thrown off
the course you specifically set out for yourself.
The Only Ones Worth Listening to Are the
Experts
When I say "ignore
everyone," I don't necessarily mean you have to ignore everyone.
I just mean that you have to dodge opinions that are always being thrown your
way. However, when it comes to a nutritionist or trainer who you've
sought help from, that's when it pays to listen up.
Do your research, and find an
expert that you trust. It might be an online personality who offers detailed,
well-researched information on whatever diet or fitness plan you're doing,
or it might be your doctor that you see on a regular basis. But whoever it is,
make sure they're a professional who has a trustworthy track record. This is
the kind of person who will help you create a healthy weight-loss plan for
yourself — regardless of what people around you think.
It's All About You at the End of the Day
Your weight loss has nothing
to do with anybody else — it's all about you and what you hope to accomplish.
When I finally realised that to be true, I felt liberated. I no longer had to
feel bad that I was saying no to big parties that were full of binge-drinking,
or that I was turning down my friend's invite to a fast food joint. I only had
to focus on myself, and that gave me the freedom to do whatever I needed to do,
free of guilt. Because I wasn't trying to please other people anymore, I had
more time to meal prep, spend time with encouraging friends, and find fun
workouts to do.
I highly recommend keeping a
journal or making a laminated card that lists out all your intentions
and goals. When outside
forces start to weigh in on you, go back and revisit what it is you're working
toward. This will make it much easier to block out the external noise and hone
in on your goals.
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