10 Lessons I've Learned on My Weight-Loss Journey ...

Top Image by: **gutter**
Before you begin, there's somebody you need to have a loooong talk with. No, not your physician, silly. It’s you, of course. You need to sit yourself down and try to work out exactly why you’re doing this and what you’re willing to sacrifice in order to achieve it. Without solid buy-in from the crew upstairs (your brain), I suspect you won’t make any serious weight-loss magic happen.

Photo by: by **peekandeat**
When most people stray from their programs, it’s because they were put in a situation they weren’t expecting. Had to work late so wound up grabbing some fast food for dinner. Had friends in town so had to go out to eat. Somebody brought donuts to the office. Most of us know what it takes to get this done; we simply fail to plan well enough.

Photo by: **salimfadhley**
It’s tough to build up momentum and mojo. I used hard and fast rules at the beginning of my journey to keep myself on the straight and narrow. DON’T eat anything out of a vending machine. DON’T eat in the car. DON’T eat after dinner. DON’T eat out more than once a week. DON’T eat anything prepared in a gas station. Once I got a few months under my shrinking belt, I loosened up the rules somewhat. However, I needed the added structure early on.

Photo by: **bass_nroll**
There’s no reason to schedule an “off day” for exercise. In my experience, Life will schedule your time off for you. It'll do it’s best to put roadblocks and hurdles in the way of your quest to get your sweat on. Even if you have good intentions, chances are you won’t be able to work out every day. Pack a gym bag the night before; it’ll be one less thing you have to do when the hectic morning arrives.

Photo by: **Pink Sherbet Photography**
For me, it’s like priming a pump. If I get a taste of some of my trigger foods, it stirs something inside of me that’s best kept sleeping. Eating healthier has really killed my appetite for junk food, but I still occasionally hear its siren call.

Photo by: **Pink Sherbet Photography**
Pack a lunch (preferably something low-fat and reasonably healthy) because this is gonna take a while. You didn’t get where you are overnight, and you aren’t going to get out of it overnight. It’ll be a grind at times, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

Photo by: **capn madd matt**
It’s got a sense of humor, your scale. It will baffle and bamboozle you at times, and it won’t always fair. It may reward your exercise and good eating with an inexplicable gain; it may leave you scratching your head when you eat pizza while weighing in and still show a loss. It is only one indicator of how well you’re doing, and it’s important to keep that in mind. Measure yourself. Pay attention to how you feel and how your clothes are fitting. There’s more to losing weight than, well… losing weight.

Photo by: **Rob!**
This is a courageous thing you’re setting out to do, pitting yourself against your worst inner demons. They’ve had their way with you for far too long and they expect that whatever fight you’re about to put up will be short and ineffective. Smile… you’ve got the element of surprise on your side.

Photo by: **KayVee.INC**
Don’t fret if it takes you some time to learn to navigate weekends. They trip up folks that have been at it far longer than you have. If you’re truly sick and tired of that two-steps-forward-two-steps-back scale dance, then you’ve gotta, gotta, gotta put a leash on your weekend shenanigans.

Photo by: **Pink Sherbet Photography**
Remember, these changes don’t have to be forever. Just for the rest of your life.