Have you ever looked at the Wikipedia definition of weight loss? It’s quite technical. Check it out.
Weight loss, in the context of medicine, health, or physical fitness, refers to a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon, and other connective tissue.
That certainly explains a lot, doesn’t it?
As someone who has both lost and gained weight, this definition does not get to the heart of what weight loss truly is or what it can and cannot do for you. So today, I thought I would share five things that Wikipedia does not tell you about weight loss, but that I think you should know!
It’s not a one size fits all process. I think this is where so many people get tripped up. Instead of identifying what works best for them and sticking to it, they jump from one program to the next, not taking into account that each of us has different likes and dislikes and different lifestyles. At some point, we may be able to run a 5K, but we certainly don’t all start off being able to do so. If you are going to be successful at losing weight (and keeping it off), you have to find what works best for you and work it!
It’s both hard and easier than you think. Just the thought of trying to lose weight conjures up thoughts of defeat before you even get started. Thoughts of butt kicking workouts and months of restrictive dieting make the process seem insurmountable, doesn’t it? And while it can be challenging and down right hard some days, that’s not the case for all days if you loosen the reigns on yourself and how you think about the process. Actually, it can be a lot of fun trying new things, such as new foods, recipes, and activities. Not to mention the self-discovery process you go through as you amaze yourself with the things you can do once you put your mind to it. As for the hard part, consider this, if losing weight is hard and being overweight is hard, which hard would you rather experience?
It’s an ongoing process. So many of us think that once we lose the weight, that’s it. Our job is done! Au contraire my friend! When it comes to losing weight, part of the process is keeping it off. And as I always say, whatever you do to take it off is the same thing you’ll need to do to keep it off. It’s an ongoing process that has no final destination.
It’s one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. Having lost 71lbs. and learning new things about myself along the way has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! Think about it. To experience yourself emerging from a cocoon to a beautiful butterfly is an amazing feeling. The process will not only help you to discover many new things about yourself, it will lead you to make new friendships with others who are on the same journey. The experience of trying new things and accomplishing things that weren’t even on your radar to do is a lesson in personal growth, like no other.
It is not the answer to all of your problems. As rewarding as it is to lose weight, it is not the answer to all of your problems. If you are a pessimistic and negative person, that is an inside job that has nothing to do with your weight. If you are thinking Mr. Right will now come knocking on your door, don’t hold your breath. The key here is to be comfortable and confident in yourself (whatever your weight), and the right one for you will be attracted to you for who you are, and not your dress size. If you have money issues now, you will continue to have them until you learn how to manage your money better. The point here is that your problems won’t miraculously disappear with the weight. But you can allow the process of becoming a better version of yourself to take place on the inside as well as the outside.
Your Turn To Share
What can you add to this list of things that Wikipedia doesn’t tell you about weight loss?
Morgan says
I agree with you…thank you for the reminder
Stacey Strickler says
Hey Morgan, I needed these reminders too