I know, I know, easier said than done, right? But seriously, the act of trying to lose weight can quickly lead to obsession—of the scale, of the diet, of thinness in general. And obsessions can lead to many things including eating disorders.
Moderation is the key when starting a weight loss program. If you have a great deal of weight to lose, any program you begin may feel like total deprivation at first. After all, your body is used to taking in too many calories. Your body is likely not used to getting enough exercise. Because of this, restricting your calories may make you feel a strange bond to a hungry lion. For me, the first three days of a new eating plan are like pure torture. I know that if I can get through day three, my cravings will reduce drastically. Still, maintaining momentum, drive, and motivation during those initial three days is a great struggle.
That said, one of the worst things you can do when starting a weight loss program is to obsess about it. That’s not to say that changing your lifestyle shouldn’t warrant a lot of focus. Of course it should. But if you obsess too much, you’re going to set yourself up for failure. Why? Because eventually we all go off our plan. Even if it’s just a cookie or a big hunk of bread, if you’ve been obsessing about your weight loss, you’re going to crash—hard.
My advice? Go into your program full force, yes. Make lifestyle changes that you can stick with. But don’t weigh yourself five times a day. Don’t drink 17 glasses of water a day because you heard water was good for you. Be realistic. Make changes you can live with. Give it your all and take control of your weight. But don’t let the number staring back at you take control of YOU.