So You Want to Lose 3 Pounds…

“I really wanna lose three pounds,” Regina George says to her group of girlfriends. Out of all of the relatable scenes in Mean Girls, this one has always struck home for me the most. I, too, had roundtable conversations about weight and appearance in high school. And that was just the beginning.

Since then, in almost every interaction I’ve had with my female peers, weight is a topic of discussion. Whether it’s the usual “I really want to lose *3-15* pounds,” or “I can’t eat that because I need to lose weight,” or “I might as well eat that because I’ve already overeaten today,” or a number of similar statements, it can seem like the majority of women are perpetually striving to lose weight. 

So, if it’s such an important topic of discussion that translates into a constant goal, why do many of these women struggle to succeed? 

The answer is simple: because we have so many more better things to do. 

The diet industry wants us to believe that in order to be healthy, you must wake up at 4:30am and spend an hour doing strenuous exercise until dripping in sweat, then come home and prepare a smoothie with twelve different ingredients that you need to go to three different stores to acquire. After that, you need to have a few almonds to tide you over until lunch, where you eat your “clean” salad of microgreens and organically sourced vegetables. A few more almonds later and dinnertime has arrived, where you can enjoy chicken and steamed broccoli. 

In other words, the diet industry wants us to think that in order to be healthy, we need to give our undivided attention to food and exercise. 

In reality, the average woman is striving to grow a family and or a career, managing households and or team members, organizing schedules and delegating for multiple people, and caretaking for children and elders (and let’s be honest, partners, too). 

Women take on and accomplish SO. FREAKING. MUCH. Yet our level of success is often determined by our ability to lose weight and keep it off. 

And since the diet industry makes maintaining a healthy lifestyle seem like a full-time job in itself, it’s no wonder why so many women decide it’s just not possible for them to try at this time.

So what’s the solution? 

Although I don’t have all the answers, I do have a process that I take my clients through. 

First, I ask them what their priorities are. The majority of people say something about family and or work. 

Then, I ask if their weight is affecting their ability to meet their obligations to those priorities.

Regardless of their answer, the next question remains the same: How can improving your eating and exercise habits help to improve your ability to show up for your priorities? 

Suddenly, we are no longer talking about all the things you need to do to lose weight in addition to your other obligations, but how to become the best possible leader, mother, friend, daughter, partner, etc. With that goal already on the forefront of most people’s minds, the motivation, discipline, and commitment to leading a healthier lifestyle comes much more naturally. 

If you’ve been feeling “stuck,” see what happens if you change your overall goal and focus. And if you need help, I have coached over fifty women towards discovering and leading an equally sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle. Click here for a complimentary consultation.