Having Realistic Weight Loss Expectations
Having worked in fitness for almost ten years, it’s unfortunately all too common to watch new clients dive into working out and dieting head first, only to find out that the results don’t come nearly as fast as they want to. After not seeing results quickly, it can cause people to be discouraged and quit working out altogether.
Starting a fitness routine with realistic expectations for the timeline to see results is imperative for your success.
Here are some things to consider if your goal is weight loss:
Did you gain the weight you want to lose overnight? No, you didn’t. So why are you expecting to lose all the weight overnight? This is unrealistic and will cause you to lose steam working towards your goal.
If you lose all the weight quickly, what is to stop you from gaining it all back quickly? Fad diets and drastic fitness routines advertise losing an unrealistic amount of weight in a short period of time. In reality: losing 1-2 pounds per week is a sustainable weight loss approach to KEEP the weight off.
Are you also pairing working out with good nutrition? What you do in the gym is only part of the solution: what you eat is another huge part of the equation. Are you eating enough protein? Are you staying hydrated? Are you in a calorie deficit? If you aren’t working on these things, then you can’t expect quick results.
Are you sleeping well? If you don’t recover at all between workouts or constantly live in a state of stress, you might hang on to additional weight.
Are you only weighing yourself to measure progress, or taking measurements and progress pictures as well? Having more than 1 method of measurement is helpful to see exactly what is happening with your body composition versus pounds being down on the scale. Losing body fat and gaining muscle is commonly a reason for slowed progress on the scale!
If you are experiencing frustration with your weight loss journey, remember that consistency in times of frustration is the way to continue to see results! Be realistic with yourself. Major life changes don’t happen overnight, so be patient and trust the process.
