Overcoming the mental hurdle of strict timelines...

Sugar_Cloud
Sugar_Cloud Posts: 28 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm just getting started here but 1 thing I've come to realise this week is that putting a strict timeline can make you (or me at least!) feel very overwhelmed. I'm in Australia and summer is a couple of months away. At first I told my self I needed to lose 10kg before it arrive but right away and decided I would cut my calories drastically.

A couple of days into it I was feeling so guilty because I was not sticking to the plan, and doubting if any of this was even worth it. Then it hit me..why do I HAVE to lose it all by then? I don;t have any major events where I need to be a certain weight, my health is not in jeopardy, my desire to lose weight is purely to look and feel better.

Obviously I would love to reach my goal before summer but I also want a long term loss. So now I'm telling myself I want to be on my way when Summer arrives, eating better and moving more. Plus time really flies, even if it took a year I would feel like I didn't start that long ago.

Anyway I know this is all probably obvious to everyone lol!

Replies

  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    I think this is your eureka moment... Congratulations!

    A lot of the time pressure people put on themselves here in this forum seems to hurt not help outcomes, in my humble opinion. With the exception of a few very specific drug protocols, instant weight gain in 2-3 months is highly unusual. So why do people think 3, 5, 10 years of gradual weight gain can be erased in such a magically short time? It's kind of funny, no? A significant permanent alteration of one's BMI or body fat composition in a year or two is actually a rather miraculous transformation when you stop & think about it. Enjoy eating better and moving more, and it should all fall into place! xo
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    You've got this, Sugar Cloud! Yay you!

    Crash dieting is doomed to failure in one way or another.

    Sustainable eating in moderation is success for life.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    You will do well Sugar_Cloud.

    You have realised what it takes to lose weight in a sustainable way.

    If you don't already have a food scale, you may want to get one. It really makes tracking your calories easier and more precise.

    As you have said that you are losing to look better, try adding a little resistance work into your schedule 2-3 times a week. It will help retain your muscles and shape your body.

    Have a good summer.
    Cheers, h.
  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    There's certainly no rush. You want to make the kinds of changes to your relationship with food that will last. That means approaching weight loss sensibly - with a reasonable calorie goal, with eating foods that you enjoy, with flexibility and gradually increasing discipline.

    Then it builds on itself. Stay with it. You'll see success.
  • Sugar_Cloud
    Sugar_Cloud Posts: 28 Member
    Thanks everyone!!! I feel like a weight is lifted of me (lol excuse the pun) now that I am being a bit more realistic about what I'm expecting to happen over the next few weeks, instead I'm looking over the next few months :)

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