Sometimes when I think about all that needs to be done to reach my goal, all I feel is a sense of dread. Cut this out, eat only these foods, no pain no gain. Where is the fun in that? For so many years I’ve associated the whole weight loss process with words such as pain, sacrifice, deprivation, blood sweat and tears. Sure all of these things come into play along the way, but when I think about the process from the standpoint of it being one of pleasure, fun and rewards it’s then easier to embrace the process and consider it more of a lifestyle for myself than a set of tasks and chores that I just want to be done with.
This got me to thinking. How could I make my weight loss journey an enjoyable and pleasurable experience? I was able to come up with these four ways:
Do The Things You Enjoy The Most
If this is honestly going to be my “lifestyle” from here on out, it doesn’t make sense to do things I simply don’t enjoy. From the foods that I eat to the exercises I do, I need to find some enjoyment, some reward and some pleasure in them if there is going to some sustainability. Walking, Zumba, strength training, water aerobics, trying new and tasty recipes, eating something other than salad, punching up my veggies by popping them into the oven to roast them, yum. These are all things I enjoy and will stick with. Doing this things doesn’t seem sacrificial, or forced.
Eat Foods You Love That Love You Back
This concept comes from my girl Elizabeth Benton, over at Primalpotential,com. When I first heard her say this, I thought, wow that makes a lot of sense. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve eaten foods because they were the “right” things to eat, yet I didn’t like them. Or eaten foods out of my default behavior, knowing full well that it doesn’t make me feel good after I eat it. Finding pleasure in the weight loss process is eating foods that are good to the taste as well as good for you and good to you. Trial and error will come into play here, but if you are going to sustain your progress this one is key!
Make Your Self-Care Time Your “Me” Time
Do you remember the Jordache Jean commercial with Brooke Shields, where she said, “nothing comes between me and my Jordache”? Well that’s how I feel about my self-care regimen. Whether it’s my quiet time in the mornings, my workout time at the gym, my breakfast, lunch or dinner time…nothing comes between me and my “me” time. I take care of me first. Not in a selfish way, but in a way that allows me to serve others from a full cup. If I’m empty and depleted there is nothing I can do for anyone else. I enjoy my “me” time and look forward to it daily. Establishing boundaries around your “me” time is key to finding pleasure in the weight loss process.
Reward Yourself Along The Way
Losing weight is HARD work. For someone like myself who has a lot of weight to lose, I need to find creative ways to keep myself motivated for the long haul. One of the ways in which I do this is by rewarding myself for the milestones I reach along my journey. The only stipulation I have in my rewards system is that I don’t use food as a reward. Everything else is on the table, such as:
- Hot stone massages
- New walking shoes or workout outfit
- Day trips
- Mani-pedi
This list could go on and on. The idea is to stay motivated, work hard towards reaching my goals and rewarding myself for a job well done!
Your Turn To Share
In what ways are you making your weight loss journey a more pleasurable process?
Kirsten Womack says
Great advice! It doesn’t have to be a negative experience.
Kirsten Womack recently posted…Celebrate Your Win!
Stacey Strickler says
Thanks Kirsten! I can honestly say that I’m putting these things into action for myself. It makes a big difference when you change your perspective.