Learning to Love Myself - How I Lost 90 Pounds and Keep it Off

This is the time of year so many of us give up on our weight loss goals. The newness has worn off, the scale may have started to fluctuate after losing the first 5 to 10 pounds, and the negative thoughts start to sneak back in.  That was my pattern for years. Hence the 12+ times I joined and re-joined Weight Watchers not to mention the numerous other diets I tried along the way.

In 2019 I had a mindset shirt.  I finally decided that I was going to figure out how to lose weight and keep it off. I read tons of books, took courses, read medical journals, and consulted doctors. I wanted to understand how the body gained and lost weight. If I understood that, I was sure I would find the solution.

Here are the four most important things I learned: 

4. It takes time. The longer you have been overweight, the longer it will take to come off. Patience is key. Give your body time.

3. Our bodies are unique. Just cutting calories and exercising more doesn’t work for everyone. Sometimes we need to dig a little deeper into what’s going on with our bodies. In my case, I had overindulged in processed food and sugar for years and ended up with insulin resistance. I needed to cut way back so my body could heal.  I have another post coming soon on hunger hormones. This was a big key to my success.

2. Build healthy habits that you can live with. Do things that you will want to do for the rest of your life. Things like eating food that makes you feel energized, drinking water, getting good sleep, and moving your body in a way that feels good to you. Do this slowly so it’s enjoyable and doesn’t feel like a burden. 

1. Here is what really made this weight loss journey a success – mindset.  You have to change the way you think about yourself and the way you approach life.  Being overweight is a symptom of a negative mindset. If you dig deep enough, you will see it. I broke the cycle when I took a good hard look at where I placed myself in my life (dead last) and how I felt about myself.  I couldn’t do this until I found value in myself. It’s a good thing to have a love for yourself, to live in the present moment, to be okay with not being perfect, to take care of yourself, to speak kindly to yourself, and to cut yourself a break.

I can point to the moment that everything changed for me. It was my rock bottom. The good news is, you don’t have to hit rock bottom. You can choose to love yourself now.

I am wishing you all the best success on your weight loss journey! 💖

Summer is an author and a certified weight loss specialist who loves her family, reading, nature, and cooking. You can find her weight loss & wellness planners, journals, worksheets, and free printables here.