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Weight loss is not about the numbers. Granted, the act of losing weight is ALL about math, weight loss is not about the numbers.

Most people measure their weight loss success by how many pounds they have lost (or gained). Success= weighing less.

This is why most stories of weight loss are stories of failure. They feel if they did not lose weight, or god forbid, if they gained weight, then they have failed.

Weight loss is a mindset, and it's a lifestyle.

Losing weight is never a short term goal or obstacle. Any accomplishment will be measure over a length of time. If you decide it's time to lose weight, then start thinking long term.

Most individuals think that the weight that they lose initially (and for some it's a generous amount of weight) is the standard amount of weight they should lose constantly and consistently.

A person may lose anywhere from 5-30 pounds in the first month alone. It's not the norm, nor is it the standard.

It's just like the practices of medicine. There is no recipe for success. Each person's rise and fall does not reflect another's.

Yes, you can and will lose more weight in the beginning. Your body is simply squeezing out the sponge. Once you have squeezed the sponge, your body needs to regain balance, on a micro-metabolic level. And during this stage, you will plateau. In fact you may even gain weight.

We somehow have been programmed into thinking that weighing less means you have accomplished your goal?

It all depends on how you are going about losing your weight. Are you simply watching your diet? Or are you increasing your exercising?

If you are more active in any way shape or form, no matter how small or large it may be. Your body has to adjust, adapt, and balance itself.

If you are imposing more physical demands on you body, you body need to adapt to meet those demands. This adapting comes in the form of increased metabolism, increased cellular oxygenation, increase VO2 max, and muscular hypertrophy, to name a few.

Yes, that's correct.

If you exercise, you will (gain muscle) increase the size of your muscle(s). You may not see it. Heck, you may not even feel it, but you will gain muscular strength and endurance. The amount you gain is solely dependent on what you do, how often you do it, and at what rate your doing it at. And once again everyone will adapt differently.

Measure your weight loss by inches. Measure your weight loss by attitude. Measure your weight loss by function. Measure your weight loss by energy. But don’t measure your weight loss by the numbers.

Do your clothes fit differently? Do you seem to be more positive lately? Is there some activity that you can do now, that you couldn't do before? Are you able to do more before becoming tired (or out of breath)

The next time you step on the scale. Look at your life, look at your body, look at your weight holistically.

Not just at the numbers.

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."

Carpe Diem

Tags: diet, exercise, loss, weight

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