Last week I blogged about the 4 P's Of Permanent Weight Loss:
- Positive Thinking
- Planning
- Patience
- Perseverance
Patience
Dramatic and rapid weight loss is appealing. After all, who would not want an immediate payoff for their efforts? However, rapid results are an unrealistic goal particularly for long term, sustained success. So how do you stay motivated to change your habits when the results do not seem to match your effort?
Immediate Gratification
We live in a fast-paced world. We want results and we want them now. Daily, we are assaulted with messages that scream “instant,” “fast,” or “immediate.” It is no wonder that we have come to expect instant results from our weight loss efforts. Magazine covers depict pictures of celebrities who have a baby and are in bikini shape 4 weeks later, or male actors who go from chunk to hunk in a few weeks. Weight loss ads show before and after pictures of people who lost weight in record-breaking time. In this environment, it is understandable that we become discouraged when our results do not come as quickly.
The Marathon
Yet, lasting weight loss does not come overnight. While it is possible to make large changes that lead to fast weight loss, those changes will be temporary. You do not want to drop weight rapidly only to have it reappear when you cannot commit to those lifestyle changes long term. Patience is an essential element for long-term success. Although it may sound like a cliché, the journey is not a sprint but a marathon. It may seem as though the extra pounds appeared overnight, but they did not. Your weight gain was the result of sustained behavior not a single indulgence. Taking the pounds off requires a healthy dose of patience and effort as you and your body adapt to your new lifestyle.
Failure
When you make changes in your eating habits, it is natural to want to see the results of those changes…right away. You ditch the donuts and super size burgers for real food and healthy portions and wait for those pounds to melt off. However, you may not lose weight immediately or every week. In fact, some weeks you may gain a pound or two! Without patience, you might view this as a setback and give up believing you have failed.
Keeping Up With The Jones'
Your body may not respond in the same way or time as your spouse, friend, or weight loss buddy. Some people respond quickly to changes while for others it takes more time. You may even experience a plateau after you have lost weight continuously. Patience will allow you to remain calm and review your plan. You may simply need to make a few adjustments. The key is to stay focused on your long term goal of getting healthy for life. Your efforts may not be immediately noticeable in the size of your jeans but you are making an investment in your health that will pay off for years to come.
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**Please consult your physician, registered dietitian, or certified fitness professional before starting or changing your diet or exercise program.**
