Finding Your Balance

Do you ever get frustrated with the whole weight loss game?  Well, that is exactly what it is. It is a game. For many of us it is a game that we are constantly losing.  The game seems simple. It has been said more than once before, “It comes down to calories in vs. calories out.”  Finding the balance is easy. If you have a caloric deficit you should lose weight right? Not so simple!

Why do we struggle?

In order for our weight to decrease there are so many factors that must be put into the complicated equation.  Not only do you have to have a caloric deficit, but there are other items that must be considered and are highly individualized. Some of the factors, but not limited to, that must taken into account for each individual are:

• Age
  
• Gender
  
• Height
  
• Weight
  
• Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR or BMR)
  
• Predominance of fuel source that your body requires during periods of activity and inactivity
  
• Current demands of your exercise routine
  
• Sleep/Recovery
  
• Timing of nutrition
  
• Hormonal imbalances
  

It is easy to see why we struggle to lose weight, even if we feel we are making our best effort.  Any number of things could be restricting you from being successful.

May I suggest something?

​Take the long term approach.  Weight loss should be linear. It should be gradual over a period of time.  To be frank, you should stop stressing over the daily numbers we see on the scale and accept and embrace where we are currently.  We should enjoy the journey to where we are going to be in 6-12 months of consistently good habits. If you can appreciate that kind of thinking then you are going to have success.  If it takes that long to get there then the chances of you staying there are exponentially greater. If we drop weight too quickly or see-saw with our weight then we are setting ourselves up for quick failure.

Don’t get frustrated with the process.  It is not easy, but ask for help if you are struggling to lose weight. It may not be something that you can simply control through just monitoring your food intake or the amount of exercise that you are doing.  

Find the balance.  Find the balance between expected and accepted.  Find the balance between attainable and unrealistic.  Find the balance of life.