How many of us have had the experience of seeing someone who has lost weight? We have this strong desire to know how they did it. Did they follow a diet plan such as Paleo, Keto, Weight Watchers, Mediterranean or Whole 30? We are so inspired by the transformation that we start thinking maybe we should try the same plan. At first we are really excited and hopeful. This is it!!! This will be the plan that gets the weight off forever! We start imagining our new body and how we will feel different. As the weeks go by however, we realize that this plan does not work for us. It just does not fit into our lifestyle. It is much more challenging than we had realized. Little by little we do less and less of the behaviors to get us to our goal of weight loss or eating better. Over time we end up right at the beginning of where we started. We have failed yet again.
Often, we fail to take into account the nuances and challenges of our own life. We choose a plan that may not be feasible for us. Looking back at past diets and ways of eating can provide us with valuable information. It can teach us what has worked so that we can repeat this process. It also teaches what did not work and should be avoided. It is not the diet that leads to weight loss, but rather the behaviors associated with it. For instance, each of the above weight loss programs are very different.
However, they require some of the same behaviors for success to occur:
- a desire to make a lifestyle change
- research of the chosen program
- advanced meal planning
- taking a step every day in the direction of the desired outcome
It is not the diet itself that will lead to success, but rather the BEHAVIOR performed on the program that allows success to occur.
I have learned along the way that losing weight is like raising a child. Everyone has an opinion and feels as if their way is the right way to do it. For the ladies without children, you too will experience this questioning that makes you doubt your decision. Realize which behaviors you can commit to for the long-term and trust that only you know what works best for you.
Weight loss is not a one size fits all solution.
There is no right way. It is an individual choice. It is not fluid or perfect. There are good days and bad days. What works for you may not work for your friend. Focusing on behaviors that are sustainable for the long term will allow you to be successful no matter the eating program you choose.