Why is it so hard to lose weight? Aside from the obvious reasons —food is delicious, exercise is hard and time is short— there are many more factors that affect a person’s weight loss journey.

Everyone knows that diet, nutrition, and fitness all play a role in weight loss, but there are a few more truths that should be taken into consideration by those starting, or on, a weight loss program.

Weight Loss Success Requires Long-Term Thinking

If you want to lose weight and keep it off for good, a good place to start is accepting that fad diets, excessive exercise, and “detoxes” don’t usually work. These approaches to quick weight loss don’t generate results that last.

If you approach weight loss with a short-term attitude, you may not make it anywhere except on the yo-yo diet train. Many of our clients from the Vancouver Lower Mainland come to Vital Body after having tried a variety of diets, cleanses, and the like. 

Successful and sustainable weight loss requires embracing a long-term commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

Managing Stress and Sleep is Key

It’s no secret that losing weight is much more difficult if you’re chronically stressed, sleep-deprived or overworked. Does this scenario feel familiar to you at all?: 

• You wake up motivated and ready to seize the day. You have plans for a post-work run (or walk) and your healthy, prepped dinner is waiting in the fridge for you.
• A few hours into the day, your lack of sleep catches up with you. You reach for the afternoon coffee. 
• By the time work is over, you’re way too drained to go for that run. You decide to skip it. 
• You’re tired and maybe a little stressed or moody, so you nix the healthy dinner and hit a drive-through instead.

This is OK if it happens occasionally, everyone deserves a lazy evening every once in a while, but weight loss will be nearly impossible if this happens all the time.

Ensure You Have a Strong Support System

Supportive friends, family members, and significant others are critical to successful weight loss. If you are on or starting your weight loss journey try having open conversations with your friends, family, and partner about it. You can make it known that you don’t expect them to change their habits, but that your health means a lot to you and you’d appreciate their support, in whatever form they are willing to offer it. 

It can be very easy to fall into a trap of eating, and drinking, for the sake of your social life. This is why a solid support system is key to long-term weight loss. Without it, the journey can feel lonely and intimidating. 

Not everyone has friends and family to lean on, for anyone looking to lose weight in Vancouver, Burnaby, or the surrounding areas that could benefit from having a stronger support system, book a free consultation with a Vital Body weight loss coach to find out how we can help.