This is the real question. We are so used to getting instant gratification that it can become so easy to give up if you don’t feel a huge change, especially if you have been chasing weight loss your whole life. But honestly, what if you just strived for 1% more joy every single day? What would your life look like in one year? 5 years? 10 years?
First let’s look at where the pursuit of weight loss has gotten you.
Do you relate to any of these?
- Less body satisfaction
- Obsession with food
- Hours doing workouts that you hated
- Feeling hungry and irritable
- Feeling insecure in your relationships
- Feeling like a failure when you do gain weight
- Missing out on nights out with friends because of a diet
- Putting your life on hold until you have ‘that’ body
- Feeling out of control around food
Yeah same!
The list goes on, but if you have been pursuing weight loss for any period of time I’m sure that one or more of these probably hits home for you. It really sucks getting stuck in the cycle of trying to lose weight, quitting your diet, feeling terrible and starting over on Monday.
Let me tell you:
You don’t have to live your life this way!
You have the power over your own life and you can live it however you please! And if you are still thinking about how much you dislike your body, close your eyes and imagine a life where you didn’t care and could live your life with confidence! Doesn’t that sound great!
So now overcoming the fear of weight gain, body image and flipping your perspective can take time and a lot of effort. If you need support in this journey to free yourself from all of this I encourage you to reach out to chat, but let’s look at how you can make your life 1% better today without all of that junk!
- Find out what is important to you!
Without the constant stress about food and your body you have so much more mental space and physical time. Find out what aspects of your life matter most to you. What are you lacking? Do you want to feel more joy? Security? Do you want to put more time into your relationships, chasing your dreams? Really the possibilities are endless.
- Set a super realistic goal.
When I say super realistic, I mean make it so small. Remember we are just aiming for 1%. You can do that! For example, if I want to reduce stress in my life and I reflect on that, I know that being outside with a cold drink helps me relax. If I aim to go and sit outside with a cold drink for 5 minutes tonight when I would usually be watching TV or stressing about tomorrow. How would that make me feel? Probably more joyful and less stressed!
- Make lists.
Make a list of things that make you happy. Make a list of things that you would like to try, places you would like to go, coffee shops you would like to visit, etc. Again it can be so small like rewatching an episode of New Girl or having oreos and milk.
- Make a specific plan.
You don’t have to do everything at once, maybe today you wake up 5 minutes earlier so you are rushing out the door to work and tomorrow you take yourself out for coffee then next year you plan a vacation for your family. Making a plan for how you are going to bring yourself joy makes it actionable instead of just a thought. Write it down and do it!
Is this sounding like self care? Because it should be. Self care is so important to our mental health. Mental and emotional health can really be thrown to the back burner in our culture or become some luxurious spa day. But self care only has to cost you time and at that not all that much.
How can you take better care of yourself today to make your life more joyful?
If you are in a place where you are still very much battling with the pursuit of weight loss taking control of your life and preventing you from living the life you dream of. You can break free! I know it probably sounds so difficult, but I encourage you to reflect on what that journey has taken from you and weigh your options.
Finding food freedom and peace with your body can open up room in your life to pursue friendships, hobbies and dreams.
If you need help getting started or support for your journey, reach out to us! We would love to help!
