Your Body Will Tell You When You're Done Losing Weight

Have you ever heard people say this? "I'll be happy when I get to 125." Or how about "I'll be happy when I'm the same size I was in high school." Let's not forget about the next two. "I'll be happy when I weigh what I did when I first got married." " I just want to look like what I did before I had kids."  I know I'm guilty of such thoughts. I always said, "I want to be 140-145." For me that was huge coming from a girl that was nearly 300 pounds. Seems reasonable, right? Not always. The reality of it is that we should never get fixated with the number on the scale. It's a great guide but it doesn't get to make all the decisions.  Your body does.


I remember shortly after I met with Jacob my trainer for the first time and I told him of my goal weight, he said he could get me to whatever weight I wanted the scale to say but that my body might tell me otherwise. Huh? In other words, my body might be happier at a different weight. What do I mean when I say my body might be happier elsewhere? Well, for me it means getting down to that lower weight range (the day I hit my goal I weighed in at 143) and then when I go into maintenance mode if the scale wants to move slightly up or down it will, and it will then decide where it's "happy place" will be. One of the things Jacob warned me about when I reached my goal was letting my body find it's "happy place" - the place where it was most comfortable. I remember him telling me it's so much harder to make it a lifestyle and a forever thing if every time you eat something naughty the scale goes up. You don't want it to get discouraging and feel like all the work and effort you've put in is going to be too hard to maintain, when in all reality your body just may need to find its "happy place" which is usually within a five pound range. For me, I wanted to weigh 145 and I'm always 143-147. Always! Yes, sometimes 147! Do I get upset? No! Can I still fit into my size 6 clothing? Of course! I have found that if you allow your body to do just this, and find a "happy spot" where it's most comfortable for you, where you can still LIVE and enjoy normal food including treats here and there, you'll be far more successful in keeping the weight off and making the new you someone who will be around for quite some time.


It's been 19 months since that Saturday in January that I reached my goal weight and I'm happy to say that I've maintained that weight since. How have I done it? I've let my body do the talking and have not gotten fixated on a number in my head. 


What are your goals? Are you fixated on that number at the end of your journey? If so, start entertaining the idea that your body will be the one doing the talking in the end. It will let you know where it is comfortable hanging out, without changing your clothing size one bit! The scale is there just to play mind games. The body is there to tell us how it is!

This was my scale weight this morning. I know, scarred feet, missing toenails, and in need of a pedicure but I just wanted you to know that even if the scale would have read 147 today, I would have not panicked! I've learned my body has a "happy place" and it can vary from day to day. Chances are, your body has a "happy place" too.