It’s that time of year. Soon our social media feeds will be full of our friends gangbuster, all-in attempts to lose weight, to exercise more, to get healthy.
And the sad reality? Most of the tactics we try are not at all healthy. Severe calorie restriction, eliminating entire nutrient groups, exercising to the point of injury…none of these things help us to get healthy. Trash talking our bodies, hating on ourselves in a way we wouldn’t treat any other human…not helping to get healthy.
So you wanna know how I lost 45 pounds in just one month?
I didn’t.
I’m not trying to either.
But if I were, I could spend thousands of dollars on every weight loss drug sold at Complete Nutrition and GNC, buy every multi-level marketing weight loss program, join at least 3 gyms (and never visit two of them), buy body wraps or go to a spa for infrared wraps, schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon for lipo, hire a fitness trainer to beat me into submission, count calories to the point of obsession, try the latest and greatest herbal wonders, drink a magic potion three times a day, go on a lengthy juice cleanse, seek advice from a shaman, have multiple colonics…you get my point. Most of us have invested in at least some of this craziness at some point, right? It ultimately didn’t help to lose weight and keep it off (if it did, those companies would be out of business) and it probably did more harm than good to our health.
Here’s what I want you to know. You are perfect and beautiful right now.
Sure, it’s okay for us to want to improve our bodies. But it’s also okay to do that without hating ourselves and participating in really unhealthy behaviors. I have weight and fitness goals, but my biggest goal for 2015 is not to get sucked into the destructive patterns of the past, the patterns where food became the enemy and not the nourisher; where exercise became punishment, something I had to do to earn food. My goal is to nourish my body, love my body right this very moment and exercise in a way I enjoy.
Will you join me in this? Instead of jumping on the weight loss crazy train, let’s support each other in feeling good about ourselves starting now. No fad diet necessary, no expensive gym membership. Just gentle, effective change, a softer way to reach our goals and love ourselves.
Got tips for doing this? I would love to hear them. Will you leave a comment below? It could be the greatest source of encouragement for others in your shoes!
P.S.–Here’s my first tip: Social Media Cleanse. If you have a friend who has jumped on the crazy train, is attending 3 exercise classes a day and boasts of losing 45 pounds in just one month, it’s okay to hide them from your Facebook feed for awhile. If reading those posts makes you feel bad about yourself, don’t read them. It’s also okay to round up a group of like-minded friends, create your own “secret” Facebook group so you can support each other. I participate in a group like this with wonderful women who understand my disordered thinking about food and don’t share numbers as they relate to exercise or food. (That’s an ugly trigger for me.) Find your tribe and love each other. Also, know that most of this will pass by February 1st.
P.P.S.–Did I mention you are perfect and beautiful right now? Well, you are!
DAMN! I thought you had the plan… 😉
I’ve lost 45-50 lbs since 2011. I did it by not going to my fav burger stand here in SoCal In-N-Out, staying totally away for Mickey D’s, instead of daily consumption and restricting my beers generally to the weekends and just plain eating healthier & smarter.
I was 204lbs back in 2011 with a 38″ waist, I’m 5’8″ tall, my wist is now 31″.
Back then I had an epiphany in a cheap motel room on my way to my last MINI Cooper event, The Dragon in SC. I looked in the mirror and said wow, you’ll die soon.
I didn’t do it to get on the cover pf the Rolling Stone or Vogue, I did it for myself, my lovely wife, my kids & grandkids, so I could actually walk the hilly streets around where we live with my dog Fraiser without nearly collapsing. Some of the odd things that has happened to me… wrinkly forearm skin, puffy bags under my eyes???
Last year at this time I was 168lbs I’m now 161lbs. In June my wife and I went to Paris for our 30th, I was 154lbs then but we were going to PARIS and I felt no need to try and maintain that weight, would you…IT’S PARIS!… 😉
Lose weight don’t lose weight just be happy, I’m happier and healthier with less girth.
Nope, I wouldn’t worry about the scale while in Paris. (But truthfully, I don’t want to worry about the scale any day, I don’t want that number to define me or decide for me what the day is going to be like.)
Thank you for this post Johnna. It’s really lovely and just what I needed to hear after being stressed about eating too much over the holidays. I will strive to focus on nourishing my body in the new year. It’s a tough path to walk, wanting to work on health and fitness goals AND loving the body you have now.
It really IS a tough path to walk, balancing improvement and loving yourself where you are right now. I know we can all do it! 🙂
I just shared this with my closed group of amazingly supportive, fitness-minded women.
I read the title and panicked – how could your soften Saturday post be about losing weight?? I am glad I read on. Great post as always! 🙂
I’m glad you read on, too! And thank you for sharing the post. 🙂
looking forward to healthy ideas. Trying to eat natural, cut back on red meats, fats, sugars to drop pounds
There are so many healthy ideas here for you to browse, Elaine. If you are looking for all natural recipes free of red meat, there are a few hundred right here, most free of refined sugar. I might not be able to help with cutting back on fat though as I think healthy fats are important. The biggest thing I would have changed on my weight loss journey would have been to include more healthy fat. Eat those local avocados, sweet friend. 🙂
I am driven by my scale, it’s my watchdog…. an everyday occurrence. But… I’m not driven by it either… 🙂
I told myself for a long time the scale was my friend, helping me stay in check. Then I started choosing between cute shoes and the scale in my suitcase when traveling. Cute shoes have won out and life is a bit gentler. For me, that number dictates a lot. I don’t let it define me anymore. I am more concerned about blood work numbers and other factors than solely the number on the scale. I wish I could find the balance you have found, Robert!
Nice one Johnna! You are wise! I sure wish I would’ve listened to your caution with Sprouts. They are like the Walmart of natural grocery & I lost my job Monday before Christmas. Maybe when I’m back on my feet I can stop by your shop to say hello. If you need anything please let me know.
Hi Carie! I miss seeing you when I’m shopping.
I’m sad to hear about Sprouts. So many are excited about the new store, but I’m still cautious. I tried recently to shop in Leawood again and had another dismal experience. I wish it weren’t that way. I hope you rebound quickly and someone who appreciates your brilliant capabilities hires you!!
I took a week off from “The Scale” recently just to see how that felt. I didn’t feel any different or any apprehension but I will say I’ve decided I like that barometer of knowing what affects my weight. It’s become a naggy friend.
Sprouts… the “organic” grocery chain? We have a few here in the Pasadena, Monrovia area of California. My wife likes them I’m sort of MEH. Trader Joes and Wholepaychecks are it for me going to a Von’s or other large chain super market creeps me out now.
Clean out the closet, get rid of the clothes you don’t like or wear….from there keep on de- cluttering. I bet You can find 45lbs of stuff you can donate to someone in need. Take the tax deduction for 2015!!
This is my favorite weight loss idea yet, Sarah! It’s interesting to me how lightening up in other areas can also affect how one feels about their physical body. Plus it always feels good to help others by donating. Thank you for this!
I used to project about my weight – where I would be in 3 months or if I could change my body composition by this wedding, etc. Now I just wake up every day and say “I am ok where I am today”. Perhaps a more powerful affirmation would be “I love myself exactly as I am right now” or “I approve of myself”, but something about the first one really keeps me in the moment. It’s been much less stressful, and when I have tried on clothes Ive had a much more positive experience. Instead of getting down on myself for being fatter than last year or looking more lumpy in a certain style dress, I just say to myself “Today this doesn’t work, and that`s ok. Other days will be different.” When I get crazy downer thoughts about how I look it helps to remember how much all the people in my life love me just as I am or how that love has never wavered even though my pants size has.
I love this, Kate! Thank you. “Today this doesn’t work and that’s ok” should be an oft-repeated mantra!!