How to show yourself some love and appreciation while you get through the toughest times of losing weight. And make it easier to lose the weight you want.
Valentines Day is just around the corner. And while we spend a lot of time thinking about how to show our love to those we care about, it’s also important to take time to show yourself some love.
You’re probably so used to hearing how important it is to be kind to yourself. But how often do you actually treat yourself with the same love and kindness you do others?
We notice that when people are going through a major life change, like working on a weight loss goal, you are even more likely to be extra hard on yourself. Even when you need the positivity and care most.
You may even think that any celebration and feel good about yourself can’t come until after you’ve hit all your weight loss goals. Until then you’re unworthy.
This is such a common mindset but it’s not one that helps you lose weight. And it doesn’t help you feel good about all the other things going on in your life too.
So here are some of the best ways to remember to treat yourself with love and respect. To remember that you are worthy of feeling good about who you are.
Even when it’s not almost Valentine’s Day, follow these tips to feel happier with where you’re at and make your weight loss journey feel better.
Stop shaming yourself
Shame into change doesn’t work in the long run.
The reality is, we want to feel good! And if we have a running narrative that we should feel ashamed of ourselves, we’ll find a way around having to feel that way one way or another.
Remember that you aren’t defined by where you’re at on your weight loss journey.
And that the reason you started losing weight in the first place was to feel good inside and out. To be healthier and improve your longevity. And to finally be able to do all the activities you’ve ever wanted to do.
So instead of shaming yourself here’s what you can do instead…
Remind yourself of your successes every. single. day.
When someone you care about gets down on themselves, what do you do?
Do you join in their self-loathing session and agree that they are failures and the absolute worst?
No! Even the thought of doing such a thing is absurd.
So don’t accept that kind of treatment from yourself either.
It’s easy to remember all the times you failed when one thing goes wrong. Even when it’s just a small thing. Because you know you have a long term uphill climb to get to your goal.
But getting stuck in all those negative thoughts won’t help.
So the next time something goes wrong and you catch yourself in the downward spiral of negative thinking, try this instead:
Remind yourself of your three biggest successes. Don’t add caveats or conditions. Don’t overthink and try to diminish your value.
Just list three successes you’ve had on your mission to lose weight that were meaningful to you.
Hold those successes in your mind and remind yourself that you can do anything you set your mind to.
Be proud of yourself!
Keeping a list of your successes and reminding yourself when you feel stuck is just the first step.
You want to really feel proud of everything you’ve accomplished so far.
If you feel proud of yourself, you reinforce in your mind that you can repeat your successes over and over again.
And when feel like you’re already becoming the person you want to be, it becomes so much easier to stick to your plan and make it to your goal.
It’s even been measured that people who feel proud of themselves and believe they can lose weight, actually end up losing more weight.
Take your mind off the scale
Stepping on the scale and not seeing enough progress from week to week starts to feel like a punishment.
But those numbers can be misleading.
A lot of people experience a plateau in their weight loss plans when they combine exercise with their diet. Especially when that exercise is strength training.
The reason you seem to stop losing weight, or even appear to gain weight for a short time, is because when you add strength training, you build muscle.
What you need to know though is that this isn’t harmful weight you’re adding. It’s your body composition changing and you will continue losing fat weight over time.
So always remember that if you’re sticking with your exercise and diet plan, your body is changing. No matter what the scale says.
And I know taking your mind off the scale can be hard. So instead, focus on other changes you’re experiencing like…
- Increased energy
- Clothes fitting differently (and maybe even needing some new ones!)
- Getting through workouts more easily
- Feeling better on the inside because of the healthier food you’re eating
- Getting off certain medications
All of these improvements matter more than the number on the scale.
Surround yourself with positive people
You’ll find it so much easier to stay positive about yourself if you surround yourself with others who have a positive mindset.
The thing about a positive mindset is that it’s something you can gain with practice.
A lot of us are told we’re either positive or negative in our outlook. That it’s a state of being we have and can’t change.
But you can be more positive. And one of the best ways to do that is to surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
The mindset and energy others carry around can be contagious. We all know how just one word, good or bad, can change the course of your day.
So to give yourself the care and love you deserve, make sure you’re spending your time around people who cheer you on and believe in you.
Spending time with others who care about you helps you feel happier and motivated.
Investing in your health is the ultimate way to show yourself some love
When you make time for your health, you show up for yourself in one of the biggest ways that matter.
That means following a nourishing diet and making time for exercise. Because both of these improve your quality of life in measurable ways.
And if you need extra support, then that means working with a weight loss specialist who can coach you through your challenges.
People who have a support network are more likely to lose more weight, so finding extra help is one of the best investments you can make for yourself.
If you’re ready to show yourself some love and get a plan to achieve your weight loss goals, contact us at your closest Valley Medical Weight Loss location. We’re here for you.
Sources
- ES;, Pearson. “Goal Setting as a Health Behavior Change Strategy in Overweight and Obese Adults: a Systematic Literature Review Examining Intervention Components.” Patient Education and Counseling, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21852063/.
