Hi Team. I’ll be on Channel Ten (in Australia) today chatting about why the vast majority of people who lose weight regain it. Here’s the pre’cis version of my segment (on air at 10:25am -ish). Do any of these resonate for you?
1. We stop doing what works. Could it be any simpler? For a range of reasons, most people simply stop doing what ever it was that got them in shape in the first place. It ain’t rocket science but many people – including experts – continue to complicate the simple. “Aaah but you don’t understand my situation”. Talk to the hand. We can all find a bunch of “reasons” to explain our less-than-desirable physical state – or we can simply do what works. And keep doing it. Keep in mind that some people (companies) have a vested interest in the weight-loss process being complex – otherwise you might not buy their ridiculous, expensive, ineffective and completely unnecessary products. After all, if weight loss was about something as obvious and simple as choices, diet, exercise and lifestyle… then how could they sell all their “scientifically proven” solutions to your problems. Oops.
* Yes, I know “Mr Six Pack” (see above) has featured a few times here at me-dot-com but I know at least a few girls who won’t be devastated with a little repetition.
2. We get in shape for events, not life. Too many people spend their lives alternating between fit and fat because they only lose weight for certain occasions and events. They “peak” for the public outing (wedding, birthday, reunion, anniversary) and then they get fat again. Harsh? Nope, honest.
3. We make certain behaviours “optional”. Some things shouldn’t be optional – and for too many of us, they are. For example; intelligent eating, structured and regular exercise and healthy lifestyle. If it’s your goal to have a fit, lean and functional body, then some things need to be non-negotiable habits – diet, exercise and lifestyle to name a few. When those things are absolute non-negotiables in our world then the results will flow.
4. We inhabit a deprivation mindset. In order to get certain things we need to give up others; high calorie, high fat, high sugar foods for example. Do you want to create life-long change once and for all – or do you want to continue eating crap and living in a body you hate?
“Nothing tastes as good as being in shape feels”
Some people spend far too much time focusing on what they’re giving up (chocolate, alcohol, cake) and far too little time being grateful for what they’re gaining; health, years, quality of life.
5. We don’t have a plan beyond the plan. Some people get there and then they say… “now what?” They had a weight-loss plan but not a weight-maintenance plan. I know many people who have celebrated reaching their weight-loss goal by indulging in a great big meal with friends. And with the words “I’ve worked so hard, I deserve this” still ringing in everyone’s ears, the slide begins. Is it just me.. or is celebrating a physical transformation with a huge, unnecessary meal a completely stupid idea?
I’m sure some of you will have a thought, lesson or story to share from your own weight-loss/gain experiences. We’d love to hear from you as what you’ve learned might help someone else. You can do that by clicking on the link below. If you’re not sure how to leave a comment, click here.
Ciao x
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
‘Mr Six Pack’ works for me fine. Why complicate it?
*Sigh*
*Drool*
*Sigh*
Sorry, Craig .. hope today’s post wasn’t too important. Can’t peel my eyes off you-know-who long enough to read it. See, now THIS is when the audio would come in handy!
Have to go .. there’s important day-dreaming to be done.
Suz (Sydney)
Unfortunately, i’m one of those people that stops doing what works. This explains why my weight continually yoyos.
I read on your site somewhere before “If nothing bloody changes nothing bloody changes”.
Paul K
craig, how about some more eye candy for the boys. i have seen enough of mr six pack. where is mrs six pack?
When we lose twenty pounds… we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Hi Craig,
nice to see buff boy again…………..sorry where was I …oh yes, I have been “stuffing around” with this weight loss thing going round in circles of late. (I did have my knee out of action after having two goes at removing the lesion/bcc from it and then I got sick which messed me around a bit) but in the last week I have had quite a turn around and am getting my shit together and actually had a 600g loss last week and I feel so positive and raring to go. I am doing the 8km walk for the Mother’s Day Classic on Sunday and am feeling really good about myself (don’t suppose you can organise buff boy to be at the finish line???) hey I can dream lol!!!!!
Have an awesome day
Hugs,
Chelle xxxx
#5 is my problem area: what to do next. I’ve hired a personal trainer to figure that out for me so I don’t have to. He’s great and it’s been one of my better decisions.
Oh yeah! I lived #2: 13 years ago I closeted myself away to lose weight, deprived myself of food and friends to get married…never quite got to my goal either. I got married and I slowly got it all back plus years of compound interest.
Now it is for my life that I get up early to exercise, plan my day and endeavour to consume food that is worthy of my body. It is a struggle sometimes (when I indulge in #4) but when I feel down about it all I think of how much better I feel, how much lower my BP is, how more active I am and how I can shop in “normal” shops for clothes.
I’m a bit of a turtle…slow and steady…but I will get there. Maybe I am living #5?
Liking buff boy…yum!
Cheers!
Thanks for the tick Kerry
Stop drooling on your keyboard Suz – you’ll electrocute yourself
It’s true Paul – cheers
You make a good point ruff ruff – however, I wonder if I put up the equivalent “female version” of six-pack boy if I’d be labelled a sexist pig? Waddya think?
And what do the rest of you think?
Hi Seb – clever.
I’ll be at the finish line Michelle – that’s all that matters! ( )
Good for you Laurie
Keep up the good work Anon
I can live with that Craig, will you bring one of your world famous hugs too??? lol
Hugs
Chelle xxxx
More than happy to look at Mrs-Six-Pack too. A hot bod is a hot bod.
Hi Craig, once again a great post, and one very close to my heart. I have been in a non-negotiable agreement with myself for almost a year now, going to the gym, being a more healthier me and I am feeling and looking great. The motivation came from reading your posts and getting up off my bum and just doing it, rather than just thinking about it. My husband is ecstatic with my new bod and keeps saying he needs to do something because he is being left behind. Unfortunately he is stuck in #4 of this post. He is of the mind that because he jogs one day he can have those two serves of apple pie and cream (in one sitting), even putting cream on his cereal (I deserve it, he says). No amount of my telling him that is not how it works makes any difference. I even began printing off all your motivational posts so he could read them, but he never did. So I now leave it up to him to decide to make his own changes – I can’t do it for him. I will continue being the best me I can be and maybe, just maybe, he will follow.
Thank you Craig for the motivation, your love and committment to us all.
Dianne
Mmmmm….. 'ello Mr 6 pack!
Craig I dont think you'd be a sexist pig for putting up a pic of a buffed female. It keeps me motivated seeing healthy fit people. This is a great article cos I've just embarked on a "12 week health & drop the flab campaign". Day 77 & counting down. Prior to starting the 12 weeks, I was being Miss Piggy & wondering how on earth I was going to go 12 weeks without booze & chocolate & crap food & large portions….1 week in & I'm doing it. Its no drama really. What's happening in 12 weeks time? Not much really. My 42nd birthday is in the 2nd last week & I cant wait to shop for some funky new clothes for my funky smaller bod. WOO HOO!! I'm hoping to be a size that makes me happier when I go shopping. I have a lot of people who say "But you look great" Yeh I know…but I want to look great with more options of clothing, not just going into the stores I know that will have clothes that will fit.
So here's to being healthier & fitter….
Pet
xoxo
PS HUBBA HUBBA ;-p
I fell for the old “I exercise a lot therefore I can eat more” problem and the weight crept on. It is possible to be fit and still have a layer of unwelcome jiggle sneak up.
That saying “little pickers wear big knickers” has proven itself true to form recently!
Fortunately, having once been an unfit fatty many years ago is enough motivation to get back on track on the odd occasion I allow myself to indulge. Takes effort but as you say,”Nothing tastes as good as being in shape feels”.
Hi Craig,
#4 is my biggest issue … but I am getting there.
My flash new gym (sooo exciting) and I have teamed up well in the past few weeks and I am staying focused on the “for the rest of my life” goal.
As for Buff Boy – where the heck has he been? It’s been far too long between drinks!!
I think you should also include Buff Girl, it’s only fair.
Pics of hot chicks keep me motivated …
Have a good day.
Em
(Dang, I missed you on Ten … sorry!)
Hello Craig,
Great eye candy thanks…
Have a great day…
Hugs
Charlotte
xoxo
Hi,
I’m yo-yoing but much smaller these days – I have 2 good weeks, and then downwardly spiral into 2 bad mood weeks. I get lazy with my food choices, and I eat chocolate as a reaction to PMT and emotional frustration when I am at work.
I find having a favourite pair of happy jeans (size 10, no stretch) that I wear at least once a week is a good motivator because I notice as soon as I start to slip.
Lately, I’ve tried an experiment to track exercise and food daily (or close to it) for 28 days straight. What I’ve noticed already out of that is that I am a broken record. It is so boring. Usually after-lunch chocolate. Since I started tracking daily again, I’ve eaten chocolate twice over three weeks, instead of almost every day.
The other thing I noticed is that I’ve been taking an easier way out with exercise. Doing pilates is all well and good, but it only burns 9 calories. So I’ve stepped up the cardio again.
Watch this space for the next round of maintenance in about two weeks.
Miss Jojo xxx
Okey Doke Suz…
You’re welcome Dianne ( )
Good work Pet ( )
“little pickers wear big knickers”
Love that Linda
Buff girl it will be Em ( )
Just for you Charlotte – to get you through the day. Some candy with no cals – but lots of sugar
( )
I’ll be watching miss jojo ( )
Hi Craig,
I totally agree with everything that you have said. I have spend so much time, effort and money getting to my goal weight so that someone would love me. Guess what? No one did. (And neither did I) So here I am 2 years later weighing almost as much as I did before I started, alone and miserable. Most of my weight comes from my very convincing mind chatterers, who I am a little (actually a lot)scared to stand up to. Learning to deserve your right to positivity instead of punishment is a huge step to overcoming weight issues. I hope one day to “realise” this myself.
Thanks again for your honest insights.
I’m a #5: I’ve gotten there, now what? Following the plan to get here wasn’t too hard, but now it’s over I seem to have lost my way and ended up in chocolate-binging-land. The damage isn’t too bad yet -it’s only a fortnight since I reached goal -but I have to get it in hand now before it’s too late!
Craig, what an excellent article – I love your “tell it like it is” approach. Having a plan beyond the plan is absolutely essential. Having reached my goal weight three years ago, I was determined to never get back to where I was. It’s been hard at times and tempting to relax the reins a bit, which I do do every now and then I must admit (!), but being fit and healthy is SO worth it, and I don’t want to live life any other way!
Thanks again for your inspiring words. I’ll be sending people this way to have a read!
Cheers,
Philippa
I’m all of them at different times. 4 years ago I unsuccessfully lost 24kg to get to my lowest ever adult weight of 80kg. I lost sight of my goal and gained all my lost weight plus an extra 3 kg. I have recently found my mojo again and have shed thr first 5 of many kg and know that I will always have to be aware of what I am putting in my mouth.
Thanks for a great article.