Do you ever scroll online, like TikTok, for example, and see those “before and after” weight loss videos? Well, before videos, it was articles, blog posts, things being mentioned on TV, and of course, someone knows at least one or two people who have lost a large amount of weight, or at least gone through some major body change. And yeah, seeing and hearing all of this just makes it seem like once the weight comes off, life will just flip into this perfect little fairytale.
Like, the second the scale shows a smaller number, confidence will appear, clothes will magically sit perfectly, strangers will compliment you in grocery store aisles, and you will wake up every day feeling like the main character. But it’s nothing like that, and that honestly throws people by surprise. Now, sure, you should absolutely invest in your appearance, but the weight loss is more like the beginning of the next chapter.
Weight Loss isn’t the Final Chapter
Okay, so here is where things get a bit real, because weight loss is usually treated like the big finish line. Just like what was mentioned above, this isn’t the final chapter; this isn’t the “happily ever after” bit. Now, your body looks different, sure, and people act differently around you, too, which is a whole other thing to unpack one day. But the internal part, the emotional part, that bit doesn’t zip into alignment as fast as the jeans size drops. Okay, but what’s actually the problem here? Well, it’s not really a problem, it’s more like realities, sometimes obstacles (but it’s different for everyone).
For example, there can be loose skin, to where the body doesn’t look “picture perfect” like what models have, some people might need a tummy tuck or skin tightening, the face might look different (which some people call Ozempic face if there’s a sunken look), body dysmorphia can be an issue too, or your brain is still expecting your old reflection to show up, and it is this weird “wait, that is me?” moment every time you walk past a mirror. With at least a couple of these examples, expectations and reality aren’t the same, right?
Confidence has Layers
Believe it or not, but confidence isn’t really something that magically pops into your life because a scale moved. Like, yes, the external change can help, but the inner feeling needs a little time to catch up. It’s kind of like moving into a new place. Sure, you can decorate it, unpack the boxes, and everything looks good, but it still takes a little time before it actually feels like home.
So, pretty much, the same goes for adjusting to the body you worked for. You have to learn it, feel it, recognize it, and actually settle into it.
There’s the “Maintenance”
Well, that might not be the right word, but it’s more about maintaining the weight loss and just keeping your body in the physique that you want it in. Think of it like this, you can get to your goal weight, but you can also gain weight back if you resort back to eating unhealthy and not staying active. So, it’s not just about reaching your dream weight or dream body, because the next part is maintaining it, therefore, keeping up the healthy habits that got you there in the first place.
