I have certainly experienced my fair share of short-lived weight loss attempts. It wasn’t until I realized that striving for consistency, rather than perfection, is the key to overall well-being, even if it may not appear glamorous.
I experienced the majority of my weight gain during my medical training (ironic, right?). This period was characterized by erratic work schedules, overwhelming stress, overnight shifts, and a lack of routine. At the same time, I got married and became a mother of twins. Growing up, I was always driven to be perfect in all aspects of life, but this mindset didn’t align well with the challenge of losing weight while juggling so many new roles and responsibilities. But, because I was trying to be perfect, even when it came to weight loss, I did many crazy things to desperately shed 5 pounds. Sadly, I’d try so hard for a period of time and then I’d see it all return within days. The desperation and craziness couldn’t be maintained, because it wasn’t right for me in the real world.
I remember the time when I got my own juicer and made fruit and veggie concoctions for a 3-day juice cleanse. I powered through it, but honestly, I didn’t feel good. I experienced withdrawals and migraines, which weren’t fun. Plus, the plan wasn’t sustainable and I wouldn’t be juicing for the rest of my life, but I didn’t know that back then. I’m pretty sure I thought if I lost 5 pounds, it would never come back. But it did.
I also remember when I fully embraced a nutritarian lifestyle, only eating whole, unprocessed foods, eliminating sugar and salt, and spending 5-8 hours in the kitchen on Sundays to cook for the week. I enjoyed the food and felt great, but I also felt like I was sacrificing valuable time with my kids and family, so this didn’t work for me either. Also, if I had something planned for Sunday, I couldn’t meal prep and then it was all out the window.
The story of my short-lived diet plans has a common theme. If I couldn’t do it perfectly, I couldn’t do it at all. So, I didn’t move forward. I’d be back to my old ways quickly and back to my regular weight.
So what did work for me? When I consistently started to plan out my meals and give them some thought and made my lifestyle changes doable. I shifted the lens to focus on my consistency. When I started being consistent and I saw the weight change, I knew I wouldn’t regain it. Why? Well, taking consistent actions develops your level of capabilities and it requires you to grow. And once you do something consistently, it creates your self-confidence to stay on track.
What does consistency look like?
Consistent action involves setting up a system that you can follow on a daily basis, that aligns with your goals and your lifestyle. It implies pursuing habits that you can stick to, even when it gets tough. It’s about doing a little bit each day, rather than trying to accomplish everything at once. It also means understanding that setbacks are part of the journey. Rather than abandoning your plan after a bad day, it means picking yourself up and continuing from where you left off. Consistent action isn’t flashy and it often doesn’t feel groundbreaking in the moment, but its power lies in the cumulative effect of small steps taken day after day.
- This can be adding fruits and vegetables into your diet for one meal at a time until you reach your daily 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day goal.
- It can mean cooking a little more so that you have backup meals in your freezer so you have a go-to for days when it gets crazy so that you can reach your goal of eating out less than 1 time a week.
- It can mean taking a 10 walk at lunch or after work so you can get strong enough to make it to your first mile.
- It can mean drinking more water daily and reducing the intake of juice, soda, or other sugar-sweetened beverages throughout the day.
- It can mean thinking through your meals ahead, even if you’re not cooking all of them.
Consistency may feel like you’re starting “small,” but you’re actually just taking the next step in a natural progression of growth.
Consistency stands in stark contrast to perfectionism, as it involves the pursuit of taking doable action that creates progress. This keeps us calm, cool and collected as we grow into our capabilities. Consistency requires a bit of courage to move in a new direction but it isn’t intended to be overwhelming. With consistent action, we become more confident in our abilities and we grow. We grow into the people we dream of becoming. The people who do prioritize their health and thereby they have their well-being.
So what’s different about working with an obesity medicine doctor who understands what’s necessary for weight loss and behavior change? Well for one, you won’t receive impractical suggestions that are impossible to integrate into your daily life. Not only will you receive guidance on the lifestyle aspects of weight wellness, but you’ll also receive guidance on the medical interventions, such as anti-obesity medications, that are sometimes necessary for achieving weight change and improving health. You’ll also receive compassionate care without judgment or shame. Why? Because I understand.
If you’re ready to take your health journey to the next level, I’m here to help. Let’s have a conversation about your health goals.
Book an appointment with me today. Together, we can transform your health dreams into an achievable reality.
