Let’s face it, losing weight is a tough journey and often not fun. You’re faced with bland meals, grueling workouts, feelings of deprivation, and endless temptations. Worse yet, you may find yourself avoiding meetings or events that used to be fun, just because you don’t want to find yourself looking at delicious food but not being able to touch it.
The good news is that losing weight doesn’t have to be a struggle. With a change of perspective and a few small habits, the journey can become much easier, even fun.
How can you make losing weight something you can enjoy?
Here are three simple ways to change the way you view eating and exercise, making them less of a chore and more of a pleasant part of life:
1. Change your perception of health
First, stop seeing dieting and exercise as a chore, a painful chore, or an overwhelming task. Instead, approach healthy living as something fun, positively challenging, and rewarding.
When you go grocery shopping, take the time to choose foods you like, and be open to trying new things that look appealing. Explore the produce section and enjoy the colors and aromas of fresh produce. If possible, find a health food store and see what interesting options they have that you don’t have at your local supermarket.
Get excited about trying new recipes each week. Change up your workouts regularly so you don’t get bored. Explore different activities like rollerblading, dancing, boxing, martial arts… to find something that makes you happy.
Once you stop resisting positive changes, you will start to find them enjoyable, even fun.
2. Plan ahead for social events
There is absolutely no need to avoid social gatherings just because you are losing weight. In fact, being social can help you stay positive and reduce the feeling of being “restricted”.
The key is to plan ahead. Before a party, have a salad or a healthy snack to avoid the temptation of greasy food. At the party, prioritize vegetables and fruits (almost every party has them). If you want to try something higher in calories, just have one or two bites to satisfy your cravings, then stop.
Focus on the person, not the food. Sit away from the food, sip seltzer with lemon, or have just one glass if you choose to drink alcohol.
You don’t have to give up the fun, just learn to enjoy it smarter.
3. Remind yourself of your “why”
Why do you want to lose weight? Why is being healthy important to you?
Write down a long list, including health reasons, emotional reasons, personal reasons, and reasons related to people you love. Read it often and add to it as new motivation comes along.
When you keep your “real why” in mind, small sacrifices become easier. Saying no to donuts, pizza, or sugary drinks will no longer be a torment. You’ll have a more balanced perspective: knowing when to hold back, and when to indulge a little without going too far.
Ultimately, making weight loss a fun journey starts with your mindset. When you change your perspective from “I don’t want to do this” to “I’m enjoying this,” you’ll feel lighter, less stressed, and more likely to stick with your good habits over the long term.
Choose an approach that makes you feel happy, flexible, and comfortable.
When your mindset changes, your journey changes, and results will naturally come in a more sustainable way.
