Everyone seems to have a "tipping point" where they decide to lose weight. My journey is nowhere near being finished, but I thought it would be fun to post things we wish we had known about losing weight / getting fit / changing your lifestyle for those who are just beginning. (: Sometimes it's easier knowing what's in store for you!
1. "Abs are made in the kitchen."
I used to roll my eyes at things that said "losing weight is 80% eating healthy, 20% exercise" because in my mind I wanted to be able to eat crap and still be fit. But this type of advice is actually true!
2. Not all exercise sucks. You just haven't found the kind you love yet.
I wish I had tried more things when I was first beginning. I hated going to the gym and being stuck inside. I wish I had discovered my love of trail running and swimming earlier! Try as much as you can because you don't know what you'll end up falling in love with.
3. If you don't love yourself now, you won't love yourself when you lose weight.
Really really try to appreciate your body all throughout your weight loss journey, because if you allow yourself to fester in body negativity, you won't ever be happy or satisfied with yourself. Wear that fun outfit, do your nails, appreciate yourself, because when you hit your goal weight there's not a "switch" in your brain that turns on telling you it's okay to love yourself now. You'll still nit-pick your flaws and ignore your successes if you've been breading this negativity throughout your whole journey.
4. THERE IS NO FINISH-LINE.
When you decide to change your life, you change it for good. It's a life-long process and you have to be committed for the long run.
5. Everyone will have a comment.
When you start losing weight, and people notice, you will learn lots of interesting things, such as:
- you are anorexic
- if you eat calories at night they don't count
- you looked fine how you were, you don't need to change
- carbs and/or protein and/or sugar and/or grain is the devil!
- if you lose any more weight you will look "gross"
Not to say people don't say nice things. You will get a lot of compliments, but your successes will sometimes be seen as a threat to others, and you have to be prepared for the oddball comments you will receive.
6. Your friends don't want to hear about fitness 24/7.
When it's on your brain so much, you don't notice how often you are talking about it. But it can turn a lot of people off. I almost lost one of my best friends because I didn't realize how often I was talking about food/fitness/exercise/weightloss. Some people will talk about it with you to be nice, but make sure they are genuinely interested if you have a long conversation about it.
7. It's easier when you have fitness buddies. Human or not.
When you have no one you are committed to, it's easy to press "snooze" at 6:00 in the morning and go back to sleep. But when you have little puppy dog eyes looking at you saying "what about my walk?" or a friend texting you saying "hey we're meeting at 7 to go running, right? The normal spot?" you will be much more likely to get out of bed and get out there.
8. Fitness events are SO MUCH FUN!
Don't be scared of signing up for a 5k or even a one mile "fun run" because you think you'll be slow. PLEASE! (I should have listed this one higher because it's so important!) There will be all sorts of people at the race, those who run 5 minute miles and those who walk. Pick a really fun race and sign up. My favorite races of ALL TIME have been the breast cancer 5k (it was so fun seeing at all the support - granddaughters running with their grandmother survivors, fit lacrosse boys wearing sports bras, fun music) and the Girls' On the Run 5k (seeing generations of family completely bawling as the girl they were supporting came across the finish line... priceless).
Can anyone think of anything else?