One Rule for Weight Loss That No One Talks About

I’ve struggled with weight and body image my whole life.

As a child, I was constantly nagged about my bulging stomach, and how I was chubbier compared to other kids my age. I absorbed everything that was ever said to be the truth about me. I never questioned it. I always saw myself in those lenses, and I adopted a poor body image for myself.

I’ve been on multiple diets for the longest I can remember. Every time I catch myself overeating, or choosing unhealthy food, I say to myself that I’ll start tomorrow. I am sure a lot of us are well aware about this “starting tomorrow” trap.

In doing so, I loathed looking at myself in the mirror. All I ever saw first was my bulging tummy. I adapted talking to myself the way others would talk about me. The damage that was done on my self-esteem was a lot bigger than just having a bad relationship with food.

Throughout the years, I have successfully been on a couple of diets which did bring me results.

However, since I was also dealing with a negative body image and other stuff that weren’t favorable, I gained all the weight back. Then I loathed myself some more. I felt like such a failure, because I knew I was not lazy, and I knew I was determined to make something work — anything at this point!

But nothing seemed to be a permanent fix.

About two years ago, I was introduced to intermittent fasting. I really liked the idea of eating at intervals, and giving your body time to go into ketosis. However, when it was time to finally eat, I was still choosing unhealthy options, and this resulted with me gulping down everything that I could lay my hands on.

Then I tried the Keto diet. This worked wonders for me, honestly, but at some point, I found myself not being satisfied with food substitutes. I wanted the real kind of food. I felt in my head that doing keto somehow made me a bit sad, because I wanted to enjoy what my family was having at dinner.

Around the time of me being on the Keto diet, something bad happened in my personal life, and I started with my unhealthy eating pattern again.

This time, it hit me hard. I gained significantly more weight than I ever did in the past. I have been an emotional eater as well, therefore, I associate good feelings and comfort with food.

In November of last year, I decided to do something extreme and try an all juice diet. This is not to be confused with the smoothie diet. What I did was just to consume the liquid out of fruits and vegetables (leaving the pulp) for a period of 21 days. I consumed nothing other than my juice.

I was miserable, but I had a wedding to go to in December, so that was my motivation to look good. Needless to say, once the wedding was over, I started eating as I would regularly, and the weight came back.

Although I am at a stage right now where it is manageable, I was still frustrated with my results.

I won’t lie — sometimes I watch videos of people working out, or eating something and I feel a pang of jealousy, because they look so good! I have been thinking for a while what it is that I am missing. And one day, just like that, I figured it out.

Here’s what I realized that could help you on your journey to a better health, but that no one talks about:

Losing weight is a choice that we conscientiously make, whether it is for a medical reason, or otherwise. There are a lot of ways to reach that goal. Some do Keto, others do portion control. Some have tricks up their sleeves that they swear by but they’re not going to share, others take pills to curb their cravings.

My point is; everything could work, provided that you have the right mindset to follow through. What do I mean by that, you may ask? Suppose you’re trying to lose weight to look good, and to feel good about yourself. What is the first thing that you do?

You look for a diet and exercise plan, right? You look for one that’s best suited for you, and that you get a feel that you can do, and it’s up your alley. That’s what most would do. That’s what I did.

I did. I failed. I tried. I failed.

What I didn’t do before that I am doing differently now, is to set my intention.

This is important. No one tells you this. No one told me this, either!

If your focus to lose weight is just so you look good, it is not a reason enough for you to keep the momentum going. After the initial pump of adrenaline, the novelty will wear off. It can leave you feeling drained out and unmotivated. Looking good and feeling good is a by-product of losing weight.

The reason why you’re losing weight has to be bigger.

Therefore, whenever you find a diet and/or exercise plan that works for you, set your intention on something more tangible.

For instance, I read testimonials about some people losing weight in order to cure their medical conditions. Some lost weight so they would set a good example for their children to follow. Some lost weight because they couldn’t get out of bed anymore and they were on the brink of death.

The reason varies from person to person. No one knows what speaks to your heart more than you. All I can say is that you already know your why. You’re just not in sync with it yet.

Next time you think about starting a new diet, try the following and see if anything changes for you:

Take out a piece of paper and ask yourself what your intention is. It can take a while for you to know it, but it will come. After you’ve jotted everything down, observe your why carefully. Now set the intention that you will commit to your why no matter what.

Your word becomes law. No one breaks that law, especially not you. Guard it with all the energy you can gather. Put your blinders on, and set sail in that direction.

Don’t get distracted by other diet ideas out there that seem to work for others.

Don’t get tempted by food, at any cost.

If you know this is something that could trigger you, write down ways for you to deal with situations related to food, so you’re prepared if you find yourself in that situation.

If setting a timeline for the duration of the diet works for you, go for it.

If you are ok with binging on a specific day, write it down. When that day comes, enjoy it without any guilt.

Whatever you do, do not beat yourself up if you make a mistake. No one else will cheer for you, so you got to cheer for yourself! It’s only a matter of time before you see results. And a reminder in case you forgot, no excuses will do!