Honest and helpful steps to successful weight loss…

The tea I’m about to spill are things I wish that I would have known before I started this weight loss journey. It’s never too late to learn, I just wish that I would have had a head start on this knowledge. People may say that I cheated and that I didn’t lose weight “the right way” because I had bariatric surgery. First off there’s no way that’s set in stone to losing weight and getting healthy if you have done it, or still in process because I still have a way to go. I won’t get into the reasons why I had bariatric surgery because I’ve been there and done that; however, everyone who is dedicated has to start somewhere and everyone has their own journey. Surgery or not, there’s no easy way to lose weight, especially when you have a lot to lose. So let’s get right on into it:

1. First, ask yourself…How did I gain all of this weight? Becoming overweight and/or obese doesn’t just come from overeating. That was my case. There are numerous health issues that can cause someone to gain weight, and yes even excessive weight. So you have to ask yourself how did I get to this point? What caused this? That is definitely the first step…acknowledging the problem.
2. Why do I want and need to lose weight? Yes, want and need…all of that! Regardless if you want to lose 10 or 200 pounds. What is your end game? Are you doing this for yourself or for someone else? I hope you first and foremost, but others can play a factor in your decision to make this lifestyle change. Many want to do it for their children. Some may want to do it as a revenge to get back at a selfish ass ex…whatever your motivation is…let it be a motivator. Just make sure you do this for yourself as well. Other than for who…there may be a what. Maybe an illness, maybe a fitness goal…just find a valid and important reason to why the weight needs to come off.
3. Set realistic goals. I suggest setting goals early on. I say this because it will set the foundation and you will know how to approach your weight loss journey. I would suggest while doing this set at least 2 or 3 weight goal targets if you have a lot of weight to lose. This way you won’t get frustrated on not hitting a certain goal at once. Set a time frame for each goal. However, I wouldn’t set a time frame until a month or two out because for most people that’s when you will see how your weight will come off as well as what works for you. Most people have to try more than one approach to weight loss and see what works for them. For me, I just now figured what works for me. You get even more confused as to how to make a plan and goals when for almost two years the weight just fell off on its own. Now…I have to work on this on my own. Be realistic!
4. Set a plan. Know that diet is the most important part of losing weight, but so is exercise. Personally, I don’t like using those words diet and exercise (I use the terms “eat smart” and “be active”) because they are way too mental for me. In the past, diet and exercise have always brought on false hope and stress. However, they are universal words, so I will just roll with those for the sake of these posts. A plan should include a list of foods to buy and a menu. Do you want to walk, run, workout at the gym, do a dance game on your video games console, or all of the above? The app My Fitness Pal (this is what I recommend) or something similar should be on everyone’s phone. You should also have some type of fitness tracker, smartwatch or something to at least count your steps and calories burned throughout the day. I use an Apple Watch, but there are so many affordable fitness trackers out there that will work for anyone. We all need accountability and seeing how we live in the age of technology, these things help us stay accountable for our decisions. I’m old school so I still write everything down on paper, but I do use my iPhone and Apple Watch for reminders throughout the day. Whatever your plan is, make it fun and stress-free. It will get better going forward…trust me.
5. One of my favorites is…”Oh, you think you’re cute?” Well…yes I do! Be sure to stay away from negative people. Stay away from hating ass people. You will come across them and they are all people that you already know…trust me. They are the ones that will constantly make shady and sly comments about your weight loss. They will hint that you are no longer the “fat friend” in so many words (yes…this happened to me), they will say that you are getting too skinny (when you aren’t), they will say that you are starving yourself when you either can’t or just choose not to eat more than you should. And when you do indulge and treat yourself, they will try and make you feel guilty about it. Stay away from these people. And if they start making these comments, please gather them. They deserve it. Even though you will be the funny acting one and the mean one…so the hell what!
6. To piggyback off of number 5, know that these shady and sly comments come from not only jealousy but from their own insecurities. You already have enough to deal with on your own in this journey, you don’t need to deal with their personal issues about their own weight and health if they are going to act like that. Do not feed into it. Stay strong and keep doing your thing. And once again…gather them when needed.
7. It’s stressful. You will get pissed off and frustrated numerous times. Just stay strong and don’t let any of these things or the people mentioned above deter you in any way. Focus, focus, focus! This is about you and your health.
8. Lastly, do not deprive yourself…but also do not overindulge to set yourself up for failure. I’ve mentioned over and over again that I will never deprive myself. I’m strict about my protein and calorie intake. However, I am still human. I still have to enjoy life. By doing this it means not giving up the things that I enjoy. It’s mentally dangerous if you deprive yourself of the things that you like…and no…I’m not just talking about food. You are setting yourself up for failure and will make yourself crazy by completely changing EVERYTHING.

I will go into this further in a future podcast. In the meantime, focus on yourself and find out what will work for you. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a while to find your jush. Just know that you will get there and that you will be successful.