This idea of quick weight loss has been the thorn in my side my whole career in health and fitness. Everyone wants to lose weight fast. People will do the craziest things if I told them it would make the pounds melt overnight. I think we all know way deep down that there is no quick way to lose fat. So why are there so many ads in magazines and commercials on TV promoting this lie?

‘Quick fix’ products make money

How much money? Billions of dollars are made each year from powders, pills, exercise routines, and boxed food ensuring this is the way to lose that unwanted weight fast. People are so willing to try anything, there’s a market for every plan (scheme) someone comes up with. Unfortunately, most of these ideas do take off a few pounds, but not for long….in less than two years,  98% will gain it back plus more.

Are we thinner?

This is a loaded emotional question. Of course we know the answer, but we don’t like it. We want to believe we will be thinner, and fast. That spark of hope feels sooooo good when starting a new program. But remember, only 2% will succeed in keeping the weight off permanently. OK, so if all the stuff we see, read, get spammed with won’t work….what’s a person to do?!

Weight loss is a lifestyle change

This is your new mantra for weight loss. You have to be willing to change how you live your life. I know it’s not easy. I struggled for 8 years, thinking I could just exercise off those pounds from too many brownies. And it NEVER worked! I kept getting bigger and heavier.

Finally, I had an epiphany: I couldn’t make all the brownies disappear from the grocery stores, but I could stop bringing them into my kitchen. I couldn’t make my jeans fit by punishing myself at the gym, but I could have fun exercising. I loath running, but it burns calories. But so does weight training, yoga, pilates, and martial arts. Now I want to go to the gym, and I’m there five days a week. And these changes WORK! It took me 3 years to lose 30 pounds (less than a pound a month!), and it’s been off for 7 years.

What changes (big or small) will you make? Stick to them, and I mean really stick to them, and you’ll find yourself in the 2% who are successful!