I stared at a picture of myself from my senior year of high school. Back then, I thought I was an ogre. I dreaded putting on a swimsuit and parading around with friends who were several sizes smaller than me. Four years later, I stumbled upon that same photo. When I looked at the picture as a junior in college, I saw a flat tummy and thighs that were sculpted from years of running track.
I was fueled with envy for my 18-year-old self. She looked so amazing and didn’t even notice it. After what seemed like hundreds of failed attempts to lose weight—some healthy, some not so healthy—I finally decided to get serious. That’s when I launched myself into full health mode, calling my transition cellulite to cellu-tite.
Three months later, I am down 16 pounds and 2 pants sizes. I go to the gym several times a week without fail. I have an amazing dietitian whom I talk to every day. I eat like a damn rabbit. While I’m proud of my success, there are things I still live with that I thought would magically disappear alongside my excess fat.
So, to those of you beginning your weight loss journey or who have found yourselves unable to shed those last two pounds, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Celebrate your accomplishments
There have been times when I felt like a complete failure for eating chips. There have been times when I’ve lost all self control and binged on ice cream, cookies, cakes…pretty much anything that wasn’t tied down. There have been several weigh-ins when I’ve wanted to cry from happiness. There have been times I’ve gone out with friends and patted myself on the back for ordering a water instead of a beer. Even though I am so close to my weight loss goals, I still struggle. I’ve struggled this week. The point is to acknowledge when you make a mindful decision. You go, Glen Coco.
2. Food journals are your friend
Some people thrive using MyFitnessPal and apps along those same lines. However, apps can be overwhelming and can get old really fast. I’ve found that it’s beneficial for me to quickly write down what I ate in my planner or type it up in a word document on my computer. After that, I can calculate calories, sodium and everything else. I did this religiously for the first month and a half. Once eating healthy becomes a daily routine instead of a chore, the food journals can stop.
3. You can't outrun your fork
I didn’t want to believe this when I started cellulite to cellu-tite. I thought if I put in an hour on the treadmill every day, I would be good to go. Wrong. What you put in your body is significant to how much weight you will/won’t lose. You may have run three miles but chowing down on a pizza, your favorite ice cream treat, and a bubbly Coke will hinder your weight loss for the week.
4. Some people want to see you fail
My friends continue to be really supportive of my newfound lifestyle. There were nights at dinner when they would stuff their faces with pasta and dessert as I munched on carrots and cucumbers. They would laugh and say, “How’s that diet going for you, Nadia?” We are constantly comparing ourselves to other people, and when we see someone lift a lot of weights, run a marathon, or have the willpower to turn down the chocolate cake, it may spark some envy.
5. There is no "quick-fix" to losing weight
Bummer. Fad diets and meal-to-door programs may work for a certain time, but once you’ve completed the diet or realized how expensive it is investing money in a delivery service, you are likely to return to old eating patterns and habits and gain back your weight, and then some. Those diets don’t teach you how to eat properly in real life. They don’t teach you how to cook nutritiously for the rest of your life.
6. The scale is only a slice of your success
My dietitian gave me some great advice when I started out. She said that people fixate on the scale instead of on their actual progress. Yes, the number is a great reminder of the work you’re putting in, but it is also important to note how you’re feeling. Can you run longer? Can you pass on dessert a few nights a week? Are you drinking more water? Those are all indications of success. Don’t let the scale overshadow your progress.
