Losing weight is a challenging journey that requires discipline, patience, and perseverance. Along with the physical challenges, there are also mental and emotional hurdles to overcome that are often not talked about. Developing mental toughness is an essential part of the weight loss process. After all, the reason you have landed yourself in an unhappy body state was your inability to say “no” to food. Today is the day you flip that switch and embrace just how tough your mind can be!

One of the most important aspects of mental toughness is setting clear, achievable goals. So many start their journey with only the end goal in mind, which seems very overwhelming. I recommend setting many smaller goals to help power you through this journey. Let’s say you want to lose 50 lbs, I would make your first goal to lose 5 lbs. When you have a specific smaller target in mind, it's easier to stay focused and motivated. Break your goal down into smaller, manageable steps and set a realistic deadline for each step. “I will lose 5 lbs in 2 weeks” sounds much more attainable than "I need to lose 50 lbs NOW". Chipping away at 50 lbs 5 pounds at a time will not only keep you motivated, it will make your journey much more exciting.

Learning to say “NO”. You found yourself 50 lbs overweight because you are not accustomed to telling yourself no when it comes to food. Start the habit of actually telling yourself No out-loud (if need be). You may want that delicious dessert or snack but do not NEED it. Sticking to your total calories for the day can be so empowering but in order to do that you will need to learn to say no.

Another key aspect of mental toughness is the ability to handle setbacks and obstacles. Weight loss is not a linear process. Take a look at my personal weight loss journey graph. It is NOT perfect but the most important part is that it trended down. The most important thing is to not let setbacks discourage you or cause you to quit. The only way you truly fail at this journey is if you completely give up.

One of the biggest challenges is to stay consistent, a weight loss journey is not a sprint, it's a marathon. THIS TAKES TIME but it will be worth it. A year from now you will look back and realize it wasn’t all that hard but in the moment it can feel very challenging. I feel it essential to find ways to stay motivated and committed to your goals. You need support!! For me this was my husband. He would do my weigh-ins with me weekly and be just as excited for my results as I was. If you do not have a spouse or partner to share your journey with, that's okay. I encourage you to find a support group or person online, work with a personal trainer, or find a workout buddy to keep you motivated and accountable.

Weight loss is a journey that requires mental toughness. Setting clear, achievable goals, handling setbacks, maintaining a positive attitude and staying consistent all play a crucial role in achieving success. Remember to take it one step at a time, and focus on the progress you're making, not just the end goal. Above all, be kind to yourself, remember that small progress is still progress.