You are NOT a “Failure” for Gaining Weight

So you decided to go on a weight loss journey. You committed yourself to your workout plan. Altered your diet to Keto or signed up to Noom, and after some time, it worked - like it said it would! The weight came off and the compliments came right alongside it.

Everyone is happy: you are happy, your friends are happy, your doctor is happy. You’re enjoying buying clothing in smaller sizes. You like how you have more energy. Your health markers are better. It’s a big WIN all around! You are at the beginning of the rest of your happily-ever-after life.

Fast forward a few years later…you’re several pounds heavier (or even heavier than when you started).

The thing, is Keto ended up making you feel sick. Or every time you opened Noom you ended up feeling worse about yourself. It’s been hard to eat out at restaurants and parties and stick to your eating plan. And, you’ve been craving the foods you’re not “supposed” to be eating (“I’m addicted to sugar?” you think).

Work this past year has been stressful, and with your mother-in-law passing there’s been a lot to take care of. It’s been hard to keep up with your workouts and you’ve been ordering a lot of takeout. Your health-markers have gotten worse. Your doctor is talking again about “eating better and exercising”. Doesn’t she get that you’ve been trying?

You thought it would be easier - I mean you reached your goal weight! You thought you could maintain it. Now you find yourself thinking thoughts like:

“I lost my willpower.

“I’m not trying hard enough.”

“It’s my fault.”

“If only life would cut me a break.”

“It’s my husband’s fault - if he was on board with me I’d have support!”

“I hate that I’m bigger than my sister once again!”

“I’ll start again on Monday, I’ve done it before I can do it again.”

But how many times have you done it and found yourself right back where you are?

You didn’t fail. The dieting (sorry I mean “lifestyle change”, “healthy eating” “whatever we are calling it these days instead of dieting”) did.

For most people weight suppression isn’t sustainable without engaging in disordered eating or exercise behaviour. Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour normal in our society, but it doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

Weight gain is inevitable when you are suppressing your weight lower than it wants to be. The BMI (Body Mass Index) has no clue what weight is best for your body. You have no clue what weight is best for your body. Only your body knows what weight is best for your body.

So what do you do? Where does this leave you now? How do you appease your doctor, your friends, yourself?

You do this: you stop trying to lose weight and instead focus on what makes you FEELS good - right here, right now.

Some examples might be:

Going for morning walks.

Taking up a meditation practice.

Giving yourself enough to eat.

Eating foods that give you pleasure and your body digests well.

Changing the way you talk about your body.

Throwing out your scale.

Declining to be weighed at the doctor's office.

Seeking support from a coach or therapist.

There are many things we can do to improve our health and well-being. The question to ask yourself is "is this sustainable and flexible?"

It’s THIS kind of approach that always sets us up for SUCCESS.

Ready to get off the weight-loss rollercoaster? Download for FREE the The Guide to Body Acceptance for tips and resources to get you started.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska.