Are you ready to give up on your weight loss goals because your results have stalled?
Or maybe you’re getting results, but they’re just not quick enough?
If you can relate to the above, then we have some good news for you.
Weight loss is not always linear
Despite what the diet industry would have you believe, weight loss isn’t always linear. Sure, the first 5kg can come off relatively easily, but after that it can appear that things are stalling.
If you’re staying committed to your program and continuing to work toward your goals but not seeing any progress on the scales or in your clothing size, don’t despair. You may be experiencing invisible weight loss success.
What’s invisible weight loss success?
Invisible weight loss success is the point where your metabolism is re-setting, as your body tries to adjust to a new normal. During this phase, you may not notice any progress with your weight loss.
This can be frustrating, and can lead you to believe that what you’re doing isn’t working. But before you throw in the towel, give up, and look for the next diet to go on, it’s worth checking in to see if you have any signs of invisible weight loss success.
Invisible success can be different things, including physiological (those relating to changes in your body), and habitual (those relating to changes in your habits). Being aware of your invisible success is one of the surest ways to measure progress when the scales are not budging.
If you notice any of these, then you can rest assured that you are progressing, and there’s no need to give up.
Physiological success
Read the following and see how many you can relate to:
- You sleep better — fall asleep quickly and wake up feeling rested
- Your skin is clearer and your hair and nails are healthier and stronger
- Any gut issues you may have had have improved
- More energy
- Less anxiety and lower stress levels
- Feeling less bloated and inflamed
- Increased mobility and range of motion
- Improved blood pressure, cholesterol or other health markers
- Reduction in the amount of medication you take
- Feeling more alert and ‘switched on’
- More balanced hormones
- Feeling more positive and happier
- Being able to get through a whole exercise session without needing to rest
- Recovering quicker and better after your workout
- Improved libido and sex life
- Your clothes fit better or are feeling looser.
Don’t forget that we often look for weight loss evidence in the places where we most want to lose weight (e.g. stomach or legs). However, fat loss can occur anywhere on the body, so grab a mirror and see if you can notice your body looking a bit different from the back.
Improved habits
If you’ve noticed any changes in your habits or mindset, then you are definitely making progress. Examples include:
- Eating less junk food
- Drinking less alcohol
- Making better choices with your food
- Trying new foods that you’ve never tried before
- Letting go of the diet mindset
- Not viewing food as good or bad
- Developing a deep understanding of why you want to lose weight
- Joining in with your kids instead of parenting from the sidelines
- Gaining a better understanding of your habits and what is holding you back
- Developing consistency with your training
- Being a better role model for your kids
- Going from ‘I’m not a morning person’, to being able to train early in the morning
- Feeling clearer about your goals and how to achieve them
- Spending less time on social media and more time on doing the things that will lead to weight loss success
- No longer skipping meals
- Regularly planning and prepping your meals
Increased confidence
Another important marker of your weight loss progress, is how confident you feel. Most people lack confidence when they’re overweight. But as they start to lose weight, and start to change some of their habits, they find that their level of confidence also increases.
Some examples of increased confidence include:
- Being happy to have your photo taken
- Wearing swimmers at the beach without covering up
- Trying new things and experiences
- Improved relationships with your partner, family and friends
- Increased revenue in your business
- Applying for a promotion or a new job
- Signing up to study something you’ve always wanted to do
- Feeling like you’re ready for a career change
- Being willing to go out in public
- Not wanting to hide at social functions or needing alcohol to give you a false sense of security
- No longer worried about what other people think of you.
Celebrate your progress
Too many people only focus on the scales or their clothing size, to gauge their weight loss progress. But when you only look for a big result in one area of your life, you run the risk of ignoring all the other positive things you’ve changed.
Focusing on what you haven’t achieved will only leave you feeling frustrated helpless. However, celebrating all your milestones and the evidence of invisible success will help you feel proud of yourself, and will motivate you to keep going, despite not seeing the result on the scales that you’re expecting.
And we all know that for long-term weight loss, you need to be able to hang in there when the going gets a bit tougher.
Let us help
If you’re feeling stuck with your weight loss and are ready to do something that will not only translate to weight loss on the scales, but a better, happier, more confident life contact us now.
