10 Things No One Tells You About Weight Loss

I really thought that I was fully prepared for this weight loss journey when I began it. I know more about nutrition and exercise than the average bear because I tend to be one of those people who "researches" everything. However, being six months into it, and having lost 60 pounds, I can tell you that there are things about weight loss and weight loss journeys that no one every told me, I was totally unprepared for, and I really wish I had known them ahead of time. I decided to make a working list of things that I've learned along the way, and here are the ten major things I've found so far.

10. Not everyone will be supportive of your journey.
The first thing I really got smacked in the face with when attempting to lose weight was a lack of support. Some of the lack of support was intentional and blatant, and some of it was definitely very unintentional. But, the most important thing is, I have definitely dealt with a lot of road blocks in my journey, from well-intended food pushers to all out losing friendships. The fact is, there are a lot of reasons that people prevent you from achieving your goals of getting healthy. But, no matter what they are or how well-intended they may be, your health matters, and you have to remember that in every situation. No one will argue with that.

9. The cravings are horrible, but they really do get better.

The first three to four weeks of a weight loss journey are miserable. No, really. They are. Most people who begin a journey to health and fall off almost always fall off within that time frame. Why? This is two-fold. Firstly, it takes that length of time to reset your chemical balances. What that means is, until you have reprogrammed your body, it is going to be missing the things that you had been putting into it, even if they weren't healthy things. Secondly, it has been proven that it takes approximately 28 days of a new habit to break an old one. So in addition to your body physiologically craving the foods that you used to eat, your brain is also telling you that you aren't fulfilling the old habits that it's accustomed to. The good news? Once you get past that first three to four weeks, it gets so much easier. You don't crave the sweets, fat, and salt that you used to eat nearly as badly. Am I telling you that you will never want french fries again? No. But, I am telling you that you won't want them every 30 minutes of everyday.

8. No matter how consistent you are, your losses won't be.

You ate everything that you were supposed to. You worked out, and really pushed yourself. You drank plenty of water. You got the appropriate amount of rest. So why the heck didn't your scale go down this week?! Truthfully, there are a lot of things that affect the rate in which your body loses weight. No matter how well you follow your plan, and how consistent you are with your journey, there will be weeks that you just don't see what you want to see on that scale. Weight loss journeys are not neat and clean. The scale will be all over the place. Some months you'll lose tons of pounds and some months you'll barely lose one. It's important to keep the overall goals in mind and remember that as long as you're being truly honest with yourself and you're really sticking to everything the way that you should be, the end result will be that your body will catch up. Try not to fixate how you feel about your journey based on what the scale says any given day. You'll only succeed in discouraging yourself from doing something wonderful.

7. It's not just how many calories, but also where they come from.

I count my calories. I keep up with how many I've taken in, and how many I'm burning. Calorie counts are important in weight loss. However, what no one ever really told me (or was it that I didn't listen), is the source of your calories is super important to your progress. It really does matter that you give up white flour, because white flour doesn't through your system or fuel your body the way whole grains do. It really is important that you balance getting protein and carbs in each meal, or you're going to have an energy crash or get hungry in no time flat. Food truly is fuel, and what you are eating is making a difference in how your body performs, and how you feel. If you don't know much about nutrition, one place I started was with You: On A Diet. While I wouldn't consider the book the easiest read, it has so much great information about how diet affects your body that I really think it's a great place to begin gathering information on nutrition.

6. When you start working out or increase your intensity, your weight will go up.

This has been the hardest thing for me to deal with so far in this journey. It is drilled into our brains that the harder you work, the more exercise you do and the more you push yourself in that exercise, the better results you'll see on the scale. The week I increased my workouts from low impact walking to incorporating some P90X, my scale went up FIVE POUNDS. Chalene Johnson wrote a fantastic article for SparkPeople.com about this. She really addresses each aspect of why you may be gaining weight with a new workout regime. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that these gains are temporary, and you absolutely must not allow them to discourage you.

5. Weight loss is extremely emotional.

I have made no secret of the fact that weight loss has made me feel not only bipolar, but crazy cakes in all capacities. This journey has been the single most emotional thing I have ever done. I am having to really face all of the things that I have allowed myself to bury that have kept me fat. I'm reopening wounds that I put bandaids on and ignored. In addition, I'm dealing with the emotions of the journey itself. Losing weight can be exhilarating, and also frustrating. I continue to mourn the loss of the old me that could eat a meal and not pick apart the nutritional value of it, or could have a few drinks and not feel obligated to keep track of them to make sure the calories are all accounted for. There's a constant roller coaster of celebrations and disappointments, and for someone who has always escaped from emotions in food, the emotional chaos that a weight loss journey creates can be overwhelming at times. It's also a very good place to learn healthy coping mechanisms to prepare you for the various life struggles that will await once your goal is accomplished. Treat the emotional ups and downs as lessons for the future. If you can manage through this, you can manage through anything.

4. You're stronger than you think you are.

Think of the farthest you've ever run, or the most weight you've ever lifted. Now, come to the realization that you can absolutely kill it. With the right mindset, and the right workout fuel, you can accomplish anything. You are way stronger than you think you are. I was talking to a friend, and telling her about my workouts one day, and she asked me, "Where do you find the energy to do it all? Seriously?" My response, "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to be able to. No one told me that wasn't doable, so I just... did it." When you move past what the world tells you that you should be able to do, and you shut up the voice in your head that tells you that you can't, you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

3. Losing weight doesn't solve your body image issues.

So, I've lost 60 pounds. Obviously my body has changed. What do I see when I look in the mirror? You don't want to know. The fact is, losing weight doesn't change the way you see yourself. If you want to lose weight because you think that being thinner will increase your self esteem, you're wrong. As you lose, your body will change. You won't start losing and immediately get a strong, toned, firm body. While I'm feeling thinner and better about my size, I've traded my "problems" for a different set altogether. At the end of the day, you just have to work with changing your thought process and push the negative self-loathing thoughts out. Focus on the things you love about yourself, and the things that you're accomplishing as you get healthier.

2. Weight loss shows are inspiring, but the results aren't realistic for most people.

I'll admit, I love watching shows like The Biggest Loser and I Used To Be Fat. It's truly inspiring to see people reaching their weight loss goals. However, these shows can be dangerous. Fact: The people who are on these shows have personal trainers who oversee every aspect of their weight loss. They also have dedicated their entire existence to weight loss. What that means, is they're eating to fuel workouts, and they're working out as if it's their full time job: eight+ hours a day. While I love these shows for the motivational aspect of them, please be careful not to get discouraged with your own journey because it isn't living up to what you have seen on TV.

1. The best way to avoid getting overwhelmed is take it one day, one meal, one workout at a time.

Bottom line, it can be overwhelming to look out at your future, and know that you have a long way to go. Goals are important, and it's absolutely imperative that you keep the end in sight, but don't get so hyperfocused on how far you have to go that you give up. Don't think about tomorrow. Live in the moment. Take your journey one step at a time. Make good choices at THIS meal. Push yourself in THIS workout. Let the next ones worry about themselves. Just like pennies add up to make dollars, baby steps in your journey will add up to your ultimate success.