When Giving Up Is Not an Option: Frustrations of Weight Loss and How to Handle Them
Weight Loss Is a Frustrating Journey
Making the decision to start losing weight is easy. Staying on your weight loss journey is what’s hard, especially when you’re feeling discouraged. We’ve all been there. But if you’re at a point in your journey where you do feel like you want to give up, I have a message for you:
Don’t.
There are so many reasons why we have trouble losing weight, but that doesn’t mean you give up out of frustration. That’s not saying that you shouldn’t feel frustrated, because you will get frustrated on your journey. All I’m saying is to not let frustrations kick you out of the game. Remember, if “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” then you have to know that weight loss isn’t going to happen overnight either.
Below, you’ll find some common frustrations of weight loss and how to handle those feelings.
1. Dealing with Temptations and Old Habits
Changing your eating habits can be tough, especially when you’re surrounded by temptations. Maybe your friends want to go out for pizza, or there’s a big dessert table at a family party. It can be hard to stick to your goals when everyone else seems to be enjoying their favorite foods.
How to Handle It:
It’s okay to enjoy the foods you love! The key is balance. You don’t have to say no to everything—just try to make healthier choices and be more mindful of your portions. Your food doesn’t have to cover the entire plate AND just because there is food on your plate, that doesn’t mean you have to eat all of it. Remember, one meal won’t ruin your progress.
2. Struggling with Self-Doubt
Sometimes, you might wonder if you can actually stick to your goals or if you’ll ever reach your ideal weight. Self-doubt is normal, but it can make you feel like giving up when things get hard.
How to Handle It:
Take things one day at a time. Instead of focusing on how far you have to go, think about how far you’ve already come. If it helps, look at pictures of what you looked like before your journey to keep your progress in the right perspective. Keep reminding yourself why you started.
3. Feeling Frustrated When Progress Is Slow
At the beginning of your weight loss journey, you might notice the scale going down quickly. This can feel exciting and rewarding. But after a while, things might slow down or even stop. This is called a weight-loss plateau, and it happens to everyone. When you don’t see results as fast as you want, it can feel discouraging and make you wonder if all your hard work is worth it.
How to Handle It:
Remind yourself that progress takes time. But also, when you hit a plateau, that also means your body has gotten used to what you’ve been doing. Switch things up in the gym. If you’ve been lifting 50 pounds on the leg extension machine, boost the weight to 60 pounds. It’s a sign your body is getting stronger and is bored with what you’ve been doing! This is actually a great motivator for you to go harder!
4. Comparing Yourself to Others
It’s easy to look at other people and feel like they’re doing better than you, especially on social media. In fact, social media is kind of a blessing and a curse. On one end, it can help you to see other people going on the same journey as you. But on the other end, it can make you compare yourself to them and have you thinking you’re not doing enough.
How to Handle It:
Remember that everyone’s journey is different. Also, you have to remember that those same people had to start somewhere too, and were in the same position you’re currently in. They didn’t just start out as health and fitness experts; they went through their phase of not knowing what they’re doing too. So try not to compare yourself to others, focus on your own progress, and just embrace your journey as it moves forward.
5. Feeling Guilty for Making Mistakes
Nobody’s perfect, and you might have days where you eat something unhealthy or skip a workout. It’s easy to feel guilty and think you’ve ruined everything. That’s not the case at all. There have been many times where I skipped working out and felt guilty, but it was also my body letting me know I needed a rest day.
How to Handle It:
Mistakes are part of the process! One “bad” day doesn’t erase all the hard work you’ve done. Also, remember to listen to your body. If you feel tired or have a taste for something “not so healthy,” take that break or eat that food! Because if you’re feeling that way, it’s for a reason. Sometimes you have to listen to your body and do what it tells you to do. In most cases, especially with food, a craving only happens every now and then. Once you fulfill that craving, you typically won’t have a taste for it for a long time and can get back on track.
6. Learning to Be Patient
One of the hardest parts of weight loss is learning to be patient with yourself—I definitely struggled with this. It’s natural to want quick results, but healthy weight loss takes time. This can feel especially frustrating when you’re working so hard. But you also have to be realistic with yourself in the sense that eating salads for a couple of days won’t produce instant weight loss results.
How to Handle It:
Focus on building healthy habits instead of trying to lose weight fast. When you take your time, you’re more likely to keep the weight off in the long run. Trust the process and stay consistent.
Weight loss is an emotional roller coaster full of ups and downs, but it’s important to remember that feeling frustrated at times is a natural part of the process. Whether you’re dealing with slow progress, temptations, or moments of self-doubt, each step forward is a step closer to your goals—just don’t give up.
Most importantly, remember that you’re not alone—many people face the same frustrations, AND you’ve got me! If you have any questions or want to share your victories, leave me a comment!
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