So you want to lose weight. Great! We’re all for supporting our friends who are taking on the challenge of a chubby lifestyle, but let’s face facts: Most of us are doomed to fail. The quest for thinness is a recurring theme in pop culture, and for good reason. Studies show that more than half of the population is dissatisfied with their current weight. The numbers are downright terrifying when you consider that one-third of the population is clinically obese. That’s a lot of people, and a lot of potential for disappointment. Don’t get us wrong — you’re not doomed to fail. There are ways to lose weight that work for specific situations. If you’re the type of person who struggles with binge eating, you’ve probably tried multiple diets in your time. If you find yourself frequently criticizing the scale, you might want to consider trying a calorie-counting approach or going on a diet that incorporates more frequent meals.
When trying to lose weight, many of us are driven by a few basic assumptions. Most of us think that if we lose weight, the right people will like us. We also assume that being thin will make us happier. Finally, we think that being able to fit into smaller clothes will make us feel better about ourselves. While there’s absolutely truth to those statements, they aren’t necessarily true. Let’s take a closer look at how losing weight can (and can’t) make you feel better about yourself.
You’ll Feel Better About Yourself
Let’s face facts: Unless you’re one of the fortunate few who was born with perfect genes and has had a lucky career, most of us have to work at keeping our weight in check. That means a lot of us are driven by the same instinct: We want to look, feel, and smell our best. If you’re able to achieve that, regardless of the number on the scale, you’ll feel better about yourself. Studies have found that participants who lost weight through calorie counting experienced an improvement in self-esteem. It’s the same for participants on the Jenny Craig diet or South Beach diet. The key is understanding that while those methods may help you lose weight, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll like what you see when you look in the mirror.
You’ll Feel Worse About Yourself
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have the people who are driven by a desire to look a certain way. If you fall into that category, you’re going to feel worse about yourself regardless of the number on the scale. People who diet consciously try to avoid certain foods that make them feel bad about themselves. The key to helping them battle this tendency is by offering them foods that they feel good about. When you go on a diet and cut out a lot of the foods you love, you’re going to feel low in confidence, regardless of the number on the scale. It’s the same with people who are anorexic. While they may want to lose weight for physical reasons (they were diagnosed with an eating disorder), their low self-esteem is going to keep them from experiencing happiness even when they weigh less than they did before they started dieting. So, in order to make them feel empowered, you have to find ways for them to feel good about themselves regardless of the number on the scale.
You’ll Like More Of Yourself
If you’re able to achieve a healthy weight, you’re going to like more of yourself. One of the first things you’re going to notice is that you feel better. Not only does healthiness make you feel good inside, but it also helps you look good. When you’re at a healthy weight, you’re going to feel good enough about yourself to let your hair down and enjoy life how you want to. Not only does being at a healthy weight make you feel better, but it also allows you to feel more comfortable in your own skin. There’s a reason why celebrities are often seen as a reflection of their fans’ feelings — when you look good, you feel good. So, not only will you feel better, but you’ll also like more of yourself.
At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to losing weight. The key is to find what works best for you and stick with it. When you do that, you’ll find that you’re able to lose weight and feel better about yourself. Don’t get discouraged if your method doesn’t work for everyone. Many people have found success by trying different approaches and seeing which one fits them best. So, instead of focusing on what doesn’t work, focus on what does. By figuring out why you’ve been struggling, you’ll be able to come up with a better strategy for reaching your goal. That’s something to feel good about.