There are weight loss words of encouragement that we all need to hear from time to time. Motivational quotes and phrases can truly help us make leaps and bounds on our journeys to get fit. They can help us stay focused and on track.
However, there are far too many weight loss words & phrases that create more confusion in the minds of those who are serious about dropping unwanted pounds and making a dent in their physiques.
The problem with most of the words and phrases below is that they’re far too general. Generalities do not help with weight loss. However, I notice in forums and Facebook groups regularly, that these are the exact tips people share with others when questions are asked. Here are just a few I’ve seen asked recently.
“How do I get rid of belly fat?”
“What can I do to get into shape?”
“What exercise is best to get toned?”
“How do I get a bigger butt?”
“Is 1200 calories a day enough?”
These are all valid questions. But answering them isn’t’t so cut and dry. I would need more information from the person asking. Everyone’s goals and bodies are different. There are so many variations of potential answers to any one of these questions, it would be impossible to respond with a few words.
So, when anyone provides you with any of the answers you see below, please know that weight loss is a numbers game. Weight loss success happens when your individual needs are met. Getting a general response such as “eat better”, really doesn’t help matters. I’ll explain all of this below.
All of these are answers to this question:
HOW DO I LOSE WEIGHT?
1 – Eat Healthier Foods
What are healthy foods exactly? Vegetables? Lean meats? Fruits? Whole grains like bread? Wait a second. Fruits and bread have carbs. Therefore, they aren’t healthy, right? Or are fruits better for you because they’re a different kind of carbs?
What about dairy? Is it okay to eat dairy? Or should you only eat dairy that has no sugar content? After all, milk has sugar in it, but cheese doesn’t. So, which one is healthy?
It’s maddening. Telling someone to eat healthier foods will not help the process of weight loss. Weight loss will happen whether you eat McDonald’s or a lean chicken breast.
Weight loss happens when you are in a calorie deficit. What is a calorie deficit? It’s a very simple calculation to help you lose 4 – 5 pounds or more per month.
LEARN HOW TO SET UP A CALORIE DEFICIT HERE.
2 – Work Out More Often
When someone says to work out more often, what does that mean? How often? 3 days a week or 6 days a week? Or is 4 days a week okay?
What kind of workouts are good for weight loss?
Not every workout fits every person. In fact, there are some workouts suited for those looking to lose weight and get toned, while other workouts are suited for those looking to simply drop unwanted fat.
One workout will be far more effective for someone who has over 20 pounds to lose, while another workout will be better for someone with less than 10 pounds to drop.
This is why diligent research is important when it comes to understanding the best exercise plan for you.
THIS IS THE WORKOUT I PERSONALLY DID TO DROP 15 POUNDS IN 3 MONTHS.
3 – Cut Down On Carbs
First of all, carbs are NOT the devil. But secondly, what does it even mean to cut down on carbs? Should you eat 1 slice of bread for dinner instead of two?
How can you actually gauge the number of carbs you were eating previously to how many carbs you should eat now? Unless you were measuring those macros specifically, how would you know what it means to cut down on carbs?
Also, by cutting down on carbs, what exactly will happen? Will you lose weight? The truth is, if you cut down on carbs, but still overeat on your daily calories, you’ll gain weight. So cutting down on carbs won’t benefit you without understanding calorie consumption.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW CARBS AFFECT WEIGHT LOSS HERE.
4 – Do More Cardio
Do more cardio than what exactly? What does more cardio mean? There are lots of different kinds of cardio. You can go to Orange Theory classes, do Kickboxing, and follow a number of online exercise courses.
Is one form of cardio better than another, and how much of it should you do to lose weight?
I think a better question to ask is, how much weight do you want to lose and by when? Which form of cardio will help you do that and how often should you do it to see results?
THIS IS THE SIMPLEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE CARDIO FOR WEIGHT LOSS I’VE EVER DISCOVERED.
5 – Don’t Eat Before Bed
Why shouldn’t you eat before bed? What’s the difference between eating dinner at 5 pm as opposed to 11 pm?
The truth is, there really isn’t a difference. Calories are calories, and regardless of what time of the day you eat them, your body will have the same reaction. If you overeat on your calories regularly, you’ll gain weight. If you under eat on your calories, you’ll lose weight.
LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW WEIGHT GAIN AND NIGHTTIME EATING ARE CONNECTED.
6 – Go On A Diet
There are so many diets out there, it makes my head spin. If someone tells you to go on a diet, which one should you go on? Keto? Paleo? The Mediterranean Diet? The Boiled Egg Diet?
Which one is better? What does better mean?
I think an appropriate question if you’re really looking for the perfect diet is, “Which diet is right for me?”
The only way to really answer that question is to gauge where you are on your weight loss journey and determine how much fat you’d like to lose and by when. Also, which foods can you live without, and which foods do you absolutely need on a daily basis?
Most diets have restrictions of some sort. This is why I strongly suggest eating at a calorie deficit, which is far simpler to do.
HERE ARE 4 REASONS MOST DIETS FAIL.
7 – Eat Fewer Calories
You do need to eat fewer calories than you currently do if you want to lose weight. But still, this piece of advice doesn’t really do much for someone looking to lose weight.
First, you’d need to know how many calories you’re currently eating on a daily basis. Few people actually know. Do you actually know how to count calories?
And if so, how many calories per day does your body need to lose weight? Should you eat 1200 a day or 1800 a day? How many a day are you currently eating?
Yes, eating at a calorie deficit is THE KEY to weight loss, but understanding how to do it is a whole other ballgame. It’s simple though.
LEARN HOW TO CALCULATE A SIMPLE CALORIE DEFICIT HERE.
Weight Loss Words In Summary
I hope this article sheds some light on the fact that weight loss is far more involved of a topic than it may seem on the surface. We cannot successfully lose weight and keep it off by following general advice.
Sure, we may see some progress by “eating healthier” or “going on a diet”, but it’s very likely you’ll run into a brick wall at some point. This is because a gauge is needed to track weight loss progress.
Measuring progress is huge when it comes to weight loss, and just about any other endeavor in life. Understanding where you are now, and where you’d like to go is important. Knowing the exact steps you will take to get there is what matters most.
The tips above are well intended, but they simply need to be broken down into further detail so that you can actually run with them and begin to see serious changes in your physique.
I hope you found this article to be helpful. If you have any questions at all or comments regarding anything written here, please let me know below and I’ll be more than happy to get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!