Weight Loss Fallacies and Truths to Counter Them
There is nothing easy about starting health journey. From motivation and inspiration to planning out the nitty-gritty details of how you’re going to take action, it requires energy and attention, and there are no short cuts.
You may not be able to make your journey easy, but there are definitely ways to make it harder. These fallacies are things we tell ourselves in order to keep comfortable. They are all things that can sap your motivation and divert your energy. Facing these fallacies with facts and truth can help you spend your energy where you need it instead.
#1. I don’t have time
Fact: what you don’t have time for is illness. Illness, chronic pain, and lack of energy will sap your time even more than planning and cooking meals and taking a walk will. You can choose to own your time and allot it to your priorities.
#2. It costs too much money
Fact: being sick is very expensive. From doctors’ bills to lost work time and opportunities, poor health can be costly. You can choose to prioritize your health and see where those savings add up.
#3. It’s too hard.
Fact: being sick is hard. The inconvenience of dealing with illness, not to mention the distress caused by feeling ill, is difficult. Choose your hard.
#4. I’ll never be able to keep it up.
Fact: giving up before you start is a sure way not to make any progress. Perfectionist tendencies can be a real stumbling block. Health is not an all-or-nothing proposition, and you have the rest of your life to make adjustments and course corrections. Changing even just one habit at a time will yield results that compound on one another.
#5. I have to change everything at once
Fact: every journey begins with just one step. When you are making changes that will impact the rest of your life, you don’t have to be in a hurry to do it all at once. Just by making one change, you will begin to steer your life in a different direction. By focusing on one thing at a time, you can build momentum and capitalize on your successes. It actually takes about 28 days in order to create a new habit, so give yourself time. As you build your confidence in your ability to keep these promises to yourself, you will also build the will power to continue to do so.
Focus on these truths instead. The truth is that you are worth it. You have one body to carry you through life, and your health, joy, and vitality are worth it. This is a worthwhile investment to you, and also to those who love you and want to share life with you. There is nothing selfish about prioritizing your health.
#1. Your time is your own.
You can choose your values and your priorities, and set boundaries and make decisions from that centered place. It is true that there will always be competing needs and interests in life. You may have a job to hold down, or an education to pursue, or a family to raise. Health and vitality actually support all of those important pieces of your life. Making choices to prepare real foods, or take the time to move your body, or block out the time to get adequate sleep actually creates more time and energy to invest in the things and people you love and need to care for.
#2. Your health is worth the investment.
Health is an investment, and it is one that pays large returns in energy, creativity, and zest for life. It can also pay in reduced medical costs, and result in being able to take advantage of opportunities that arise.
#3. You are capable.
If you need a reminder, try making a list of the hard things in your life that you’ve overcome, or a list of the skills you have. You may be surprised by how long that list is, and it can help you put things in perspective. While you are making lists, make a list of things you are grateful for as well and use these things to help fuel your “Big Why.” Your Big Why is your motivation, and helps you tap into the positive things you are working toward and the larger purpose for your goals.
#4. You only have to do the next right thing.
Rather than quit before you start, remind yourself that all goals take time to achieve. You are not required to do everything all at once, and get everything right the first time. You only have to do the next right thing, and to love and care for yourself in each passing moment.
#5. Every journey begins with a first step.
Taking just one step at a time to focus on your health will begin to move your life in a healthy direction. Healthy habits form a foundation for your life, and they compound their positive benefits in order to allow you to meet your goals. If you start by focusing on getting the sleep you need, the increased energy you experience will help you tackle your next goal, which may be getting up twenty minutes earlier to move or to prep healthy and nourishing meals. The increased energy from moving your body and getting the nutrition you need can help you find time to connect with your friends and family. Connecting with your friends and family can help you remember your Big Why and help keep your motivation for health high. All of these things combine to create a foundation of health that allows you to focus on your purpose and your goals.
The bottom line is that YOU ARE WORTH IT. If you are seeking a like-minded community to help inspire, educate, and equip you, TRIBE might be for you. This online community offers you support and encouragement. All TruBalance offices are equipped for both virtual and in-person appointment as well, so if you are looking for the one-on-one support and accountability to make real changes, we are here for you.