Three Keys to Losing Weight

For most of my life I was in control. Sure, I gained five or ten pounds occasionally, but I was able to cut back on calories or step up my aerobics classes and bring the scale back in line. But there came a time that my self-control gear broke down.

The Shame of Feeling Out of Control

There is something about knowing you need to lose weight, but being unable to say no to Rocky Road Ice Cream that destroys your self confidence. Comfort food becomes a crutch when you're tired, lonely, sad, anxious or even happy. And, once eaten, shame fills your heart as quickly as the food fills your stomach.

No matter how intelligent and smart about life someone might be, an overeater who is out-of-control makes mistakes about eating over and over. Every night they tell themselves, "tomorrow I start losing this weight", and the next morning, they find an excuse to put it off another day. Shame feeds more shame.

Being Independent Can be a Negative Trait When Losing Weight!

This is where I was before I signed up for the Medi-Weightloss Program: wishing and wanting but overeating. I had never lost weight with someone else's help before. I was a strong woman, in charge of my finances who had raised two daughters on my own. I had a library of diet and recipe books that I thought could guide me to being slim.

I erroneously thought that I could be independent of anyone's help. But I was wrong; I needed assistance with losing my weight. After all, menopause had messed up my hormones, and getting older caused other medical issues, so doesn't it make sense that my insulin level and metabolism might have gotten off kilter as well? I was almost at the point that I thought it would be impossible to lose weight at this stage of my life. But I learned that in order for me to lose weight, three factors had to be present.

First, I Needed to Pick a Healthy Weightloss Plan

The basis for beginning a weightloss program that will result in a life change, should be to start out with a program that has food education at the core of its design. No crash diets, cabbage soup diet or liver cleansing fast. I liked the Medi-Weightloss Program's approach, because they start out with a health assessment to make sure I didn't have some health issues I should address first. While their acute phase in the program is restrictive, they require healthy food choices and supplements to ensure adequate nutrition. Weekly visits include a blood pressure reading and discussion of any problems I might be having.

Second, I Needed to Track and Monitor and Be Held Responsible!

For me, it was critical that I kept up with my daily eating journal and track results. On the third week, I switched from Medi's manual journal to an online tracking system on Caloriecount.com.

The weekly appointments and weigh-ins with the Medi-Weightloss Staff were a critical factor for me losing weight successfully. I knew that every Friday I would step on that scale and face the music. Also, paying a weekly fee, reminded me that I needed to stick to it, so I wasn't wasting my money. The weekly weigh-in, changed from a dreaded event to one I looked forward to as I watched that number go down. In addition to reading my weight, their scale also measured BMI and calculated my fat percentage and mass. I studied that slip of paper with my stats after every appointment, visualizing what that fat loss represented inside my body.

Third, I Needed the Support of the Medi-Weightloss Staff

There are several weightloss programs that offer face-to-face support. Weight Watchers has always been a weightloss program that includes a support system, with a private weekly weigh-in for each member. Jenny Craig has a weekly progress consultation as well.

My weekly consultation with the Medi staff was as strong a factor for me staying on track, as stepping on that scale. They acted as an advisor and friend in equal doses. Sometimes losing weight can alienate you from your friends or family, who don't support you the way you need them to. Innocently, those close to you can question your diet or sabotage your efforts. While I had a supportive personal network, I didn't want everyone's opinion. I shared my weekly weightloss results with close friends and family and on my Facebook page, but that is the only way I involved them...just in celebration of success!

I found that the encouragement I received from the Medi-Weightloss staff gave me the positive reinforcement that I needed, week after week. And by accepting their help, I was helping myself, which satisfied my independent nature.

Whatever weightloss program you might undertake, its critical to incorporate these three principals into your plan. If you pick a healthy plan, monitor and track progress regularly, and find a support network that won't judge, reaching your goal will only be the beginning of a healthier life!

Related Reading:
Losing Weight One Pound at a Time
A Review of the Medi-Weightloss Program
My Medi-Weightloss Recipes and Tips
How to Burn Bonus Calories