Fitness Together Georgia

Many people fail in their weight loss efforts because of common self-defeating weight loss thoughts. Below are two of the most common. As you read, you may find that these thoughts have crossed your mind.

Now that I’m exercising, I can eat whatever I want!

This one definitely hits the top of the list, as it is the most common thought that I encounter with my clients. If your goal is to lose weight, you can’t just eat anything you want. In fact, to lose weight, you have to realize that eating right is more than 75% of the battle! This thought often leads to frustration because you think that you are doing everything right by exercising. You have to remember that there are 3,500 calories in a pound of fat. So even if you burn 2,500 calories in a day and you eat 3,000 calories, you are not going to lose fat.


The worst part is that most of those calories are coming from nutrient empty sources like alcoholic beverages, late night snacks and ice cream. To have any long-term success, you are going to have to learn how to eat in a supportive manner. Sure, every now and again you should be able to eat a piece of pie or have a hamburger. You just can’t do it every day.

I haven’t lost any weight so I guess it isn’t working. I may as well just give up!

Ask anyone who is fit and has been working out for more than a year and they will tell you that weight doesn’t magically disappear. They will also tell you that it will go in spurts. The good news is that when you lose weight the right way, it stays off. When it comes to losing weight through fad diets and deprivation, you will gain the weight back with interest. There are a couple of things you have to remember.


First, ask yourself how long it took you to gain the weight. If it took longer than a couple of weeks to gain, it will take more than a couple weeks to lose.


Second, you have to realize that weight is nothing more than gravity pulling an object toward the earth. It is not a true measurement of your body composition nor will it show overall improvements that you make. Weight does not reflect improvements in quality of life, body composition, flexibility or decreases in cholesterol and blood pressure. A proper assessment test will be able to show you how many pounds of fat you have lost and how many pounds of muscle you gained. I’m not saying you won’t lose weight or that you shouldn’t, but too many people put too much emphasis on weight alone.


True, safe and effective fat loss occurs not in the course of one to two weeks, but in one, two, or twelve months. If you continue to invest time and effort, you will see constant results and changes. It takes time, but wouldn’t you agree that it’s worth it?

What Do You Think?

What are some of your self-defeating weight loss thoughts? We have all had them. How did you overcome them?




Kelly Huggins
Exercise Science, B.S.
Owner, Fitness Together