Weight Loss Reality Check: What your trainer is afraid to tell you.

Warning… I have my trainer pants on, and I am about to get honest.

A majority of the clients who work with Mind Body Fitness trainers say weight loss is one of their primary goals. I get it. I could write a whole dissertation on how weight factors in to our self-confidence, self-worth, and or overall comfort level when living in our bodies. Women especially seem to have a strong desire to be thin. Skinny. “Wedding weight.” On occasion this turns out to be a totally unrealistic and/or unhealthy goal. And some trainers will just smile and nod. They will take your money knowing you are doomed to fail. Sad but true…This can be very frustrating! I want to just blame society or sexism or Barbie for all the body related issues in the world... But the fact remains – I am a trainer and people WILL come to me to lose weight. I need to be able to help them do so in a healthy (and realistic) way. So, I try to help clients reshape their desires into authentic and attainable goals. When I am honest with them, success is more likely to follow…and SOMETIMES weight loss too.

Are you on a weight loss journey? Could you setting yourself up for failure? Here are a few factors you may want to consider...

Your lifestyle might have to change. No, I mean, for real.

You have to take a good hard look at your lifestyle and what you are really willing to change. Just because you hire a trainer does not mean you will magically get fit! The 1 or 2 hours per week you spend working out with your trainer is just the beginning. All the major health organizations suggest 30 minutes of moderate exercise MOST DAYS PER WEEK. That means you will have to rally on your own sometimes. Your trainer is there for support, encouragement, and accountability, but you have to do the work.

Also, exercise is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to weight loss. Poor food choices, alcohol consumption, disordered eating, and lack of sleep often act as major road blocks when it comes to weight loss. Some clients may not even realize that these factors have played a role in their weight gain. Many of the trainers on our staff suggest keeping a food journal. Clients can take an honest look at what they are consuming by writing every bite consumed throughout the day. When you see it in pen and ink, you may start to reconsider some of those choices. Not willing to give up some of those unhealthy habits? Then, reality check! You may not be ready lose weight.

It takes time and patience. A lot of it.

If I had a dollar for the number times has a client asked... "Do you think I could lose X amount of weight before my vacation next month?" Usually they already know the answer. No. You cannot/should not lose that much weight in a short amount of time. If by some miracle you do, chances are it is just a quick fix. If you want to see lasting effects and maintain a healthy weight in the long run, extreme fitness and dieting is not the answer. Healthy weight loss usually amounts to 1 to 2 pounds per week IF you are on track with both food and exercise. So, if your vacation is 2 weeks away expect to lose 2 to 4 pounds if are doing everything right.

Weight loss is not a sprint. It's a marathon…Especially if you are starting from scratch. Unhealthy habits take a long time to form. Healthy habits are no different. Talking small steps, practicing patience, and trusting that results will come is key.

Maybe you don't need to lose weight! Shocking, I know.

Are you living the healthiest life possible without driving yourself crazy? If you are eating mostly healthy foods, exercising regularly, and sleeping well your body will maintain YOUR ideal weight. It may not be the same number you saw on the scale when you were 19 or on your wedding day! Sorry! Chances are, if you are doing what you can to be healthy while juggling work, family, social life, and anything else life throws your way, you are can just relax and be you. Stop earning for the past and start concentrating on the present. Weight is not the issue. The issue is how you feel about yourself. It’s about living a balanced existence and letting go of negative and unhealthy thoughts about yourself.

And if you are living a healthy/active lifestyle and you still feel down about your body, you may want to dive deeper. Reshaping your goals might be helpful. Instead of losing those last 5 pounds, maybe it’s running a marathon or mastering that handstand or finding more “you time.” Your power and self-worth are not found in the size of your jeans or the number on the scale. Expand your horizons.

Want to chat more about it with a trainer that will tell it like it is? Let me know. Even if you just wanted to chat over the phone to discuss your options. Give me call or shoot me an email.