As you travel through your weight loss journey, you’ll face obstacles. It can be mentally challenging to shift your routines and make new choices on a daily basis. There may be times you don’t reach your goals, but don’t be too hard on yourself. This may actually hinder your progress. Self-love and compassion can help you meet your goals—and you’ll feel better doing it. Here, learn some tips on how to love yourself and set yourself up for long-term weight loss and lifestyle changes.
Reframe the journey.
Do you think of diet and exercise as things you must slog through? Do they feel like a punishment? Try reframing the journey. Think of the choices you are making as a gift you are giving yourself.
Instead of focusing on the sacrifices you’re making, think about what you’re gaining. Maybe it’s the ability to feel more comfortable in your body. Maybe it’s having more energy to do the things you love. Keep in mind that you are setting yourself up for a long and healthy life.
Look at the big picture.
Take stock of your whys behind your health journey. The broad view also helps you bounce back from lapses. Research shows that people who practice self-compassion can handle diet and exercise “lapses” in a more productive way than those who don’t.
Rather than beat yourself up for a perceived slip, observe without judgment why your day went as it did. Know that you can make different choices tomorrow. After all, health and weight loss stem from the pattern of overall choices you make, not what you do on a single day.
Find joy in new habits.
Along with those big picture gains, there is joy to be had in new habits. Instead of doing exercises you dread, move your body in ways that you look forward to. Take up dancing or start going for walks with friends. Try new foods that excite your taste buds and leave you satisfied. Experiment with a new recipe from a cuisine that you love.
Look for progress beyond the scale.
It can be hard at times to feel kindness toward yourself. Especially if you’re measuring yourself by the scale. Weight can fluctuate, even if it’s trending downward.
The steps you’re taking to lose weight have far-reaching health benefits. Are you getting stronger? Maybe your cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels are lowering. Perhaps you just feel better. All of this can be true even if the numbers on the scale aren’t where you’d like them to be. But remember, weight and BMI are only one part of your health story. There are other ways to measure your progress that have nothing to do with the scale.
Remember it’s your own journey.
Your weight loss journey doesn’t need to look like anybody else’s. It is yours to travel. Comparing yourself to others is a surefire way to feel discouraged. Love yourself and the journey you are on.