You're scrolling through social media when you see someone who lost an incredible 50, 100, or even 150 pounds, and they look amazing! Their body is toned, and they've accomplished their goal. You're amazed and happy for them, but at the same time, it triggers something inside you, and you're puzzled as to why you don't seem to be able to lose even a fraction of that. Why is that?
Some might say, "It's easier to burn calories when you're heavier because you burn more calories at rest." However, this is just an excuse that keeps you stuck exactly where you are. While it's true that heavier individuals burn more calories at rest, their larger stomachs can make them feel just as hungry as you would while eating less.
Then if 10 lbs isn't a lot, how come so many people stay stuck in this limbo for decades?
The real problem is that you're approaching your weight loss goals with the mindset of "I have only a few pounds lose."
It doesn't matter if you want to lose 10 or 100 lbs; you need to approach it the same way!
Every weight loss goal is about losing ONE pound at a time. So don't focus on how many lbs you need to lose overall; just focus on doing all the right things that will help you lose the next pound.
Let's talk about Maggie. She weighs 150 lbs and wants to lose 20 lbs to reach her ideal weight of 130 lbs, where she feels sexy, and all her favorite clothes feel amazing. Friday night comes, and she has a date night at Bahama Breeze. As the waiter comes to take her order, her mind starts to spiral:
"I did so well with my eating and workouts this past week; now I deserve to have that Pina Colada on Friday night. I could use a drink after a stressful day at work. Yeah, I'll do that; it's all about balance."

Sorry, Maggie, but that's not balance; that's self-sabotage.
Listen, I love Pina Coladas as much as anyone, but they have no place in a meal plan for someone still working toward their goal weight. The ultimate pineapple Pina Colada at Bahama Breeze has 550 calories and tons of sugar (79 g), and you need a deficit of 3,500 calories to lose just one pound!
In Maggie's case, at 150 lbs, to lose those 500 calories (this is not precise, as other factors will influence this), she would need to run on the treadmill for 40 minutes. We're not even considering how the alcohol affects the liver, the organ responsible for metabolizing fat, or the sugar's impact on insulin spikes.
The best weight loss strategy for Maggie would be NOT having the Pina Colada (a glass of white wine or champagne would be better choices), using the 40 minutes it would take to burn the Pina Colada, and investing that time in a 30-minute strength training workout to build muscle and a 10-minute meditation to naturally balance stress hormones.
There are the nuts and bolts of weight loss: nutrition with an appropriate meal plan that will keep you in a calorie deficit. But none of that matters if you don't stop self-sabotaging with the mindset of "only 10 lbs to lose."
So start approaching your weight loss goals with just the next pound in mind, and keep going until you reach your goal weight.
If you find this helpful, you will enjoy my new weight loss workshop. Join my site to be notified when registration opens.
Warmly,
Autumn
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