Whether you’re doing the 14-Day Healthy You! Challenge or you’re just trying to lose a few pounds on your own, weight loss can be a roller coaster ride. We’d all like to lose weight at a constant and steady pace but that isn’t always the case. In order to succeed for the long term, you need to accept minor setbacks and continue to move forward.
If you’re following the day-by-day Healthy You meal plan, you will most likely see quick and constant weight loss during the 14-day program. If you have a substantial amount of weight to lose, setbacks are inevitable; don’t let these small setbacks derail your ultimate goal. It is normal for people to have ups and downs when trying to drop large amounts of weight. By anticipating some bumps along the way, you’ll be better equipped to achieve a healthy weight without letting small discouragements permanently sideline you.
Most people think they should witness steady weight loss from day one. In their mind’s eye, their weight loss should look like the chart below:
You may experience this type of weight loss during the 14-day Healthy You! program, but beyond the two weeks, your weight loss will probably fluctuate. Even with solid determination and hard work, someone can go from losing a few pounds at a steady pace to leveling out at a plateau for a short period. If you push forward, you can continue losing again after your body resets itself to the lower weight. You will still reach your end goal weight, but you’ll likely enter a few phases where you’re not losing weight, and you may even fluctuate by a few pounds. When this happens, just be patient and realize it is part of the process. Know that if you stick with the program, your body will once again respond to the positive changes you’re making. A more realistic weight loss chart looks like this:
The chart above reflects an initial stage of weight loss, followed by a plateau, followed by more weight loss and more plateaus, until you eventually achieve your goal weight.
The problem begins when people allow plateaus or temporary weight gains to throw them into emotional turmoil and they view the process as “all or nothing.” This is what causes so many people to lose weight, only to gain it back within a relatively short period; an inability to flawlessly reach a goal weight is seen as a complete failure. Unfortunately when this happens, most people gain weight rather than lose as the chart depicts below:
The chart below represents a realistic snapshot for individuals who have more than a few pounds to lose. By anticipating bumps in the road, you’ll realize you can and will push past the plateau periods. Expect your weight loss chart to look something like this:
Factors like business travel, family vacations, stress or innocent “slip-ups” might temporarily derail you, but, regardless, it is important to not view your weight loss as an “all or nothing” pursuit.
What are your weight loss goals? Have you found your weight loss pursuit reflects one of the charts above?
