Posted on by Belladonna

Weight Loss ~The Challenge Of It All~

Have you ever joined a weight loss challenge group?

If so, why?

Eleven years ago, I joined the very last weight loss, challenge group. I was a part of it for a little over a year, and I tossed the whole group to the curb. I was drained, and every time I looked at pizza, chocolate, hamburgers, and fries, I started to shake. Well, maybe I didn’t shake, but I sure did feel like it. All I wanted to do was eat up everything that I saw. But I knew I had to weigh in on Saturday, and I wanted to win. So I would eat very little, and on most nights, I would skip dinner.

Big mistake!

Skipping dinner will lead to late-night munching, and late-night munching will cause weight gain. Not to mention that all the late-night munching will cause you to have a miserable night’s sleep. 

And what is one HUGE factor in losing weight?

SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP 

So take this advice from a woman that has been on several diets, exercise fanatic, and has suffered from poor nutrition.

Weight loss challenge groups SUCK!

If you want to get healthy, you have to educate yourself on all the proper foods for your body. Internally we are all different; therefore, certain foods may trigger something negative within me and not you. And when you join a weight loss group, I doubt that you are taking time to get to know your body. The main goal in a challenge group is to lose weight; it doesn’t matter how you get there, just get there. A nutrition plan is pushed to the back burner.

It has always been a red flag for me when a new client tells me that they are on a mission to win a weight loss challenge at their job or in their family. My immediate questions are:

  1. Is there a cash prize?
  2. Will there be men and women that will take part in this challenge?
  3. Are you at the high end of the challenge?
  4. How long does the challenge last?

Our bodies need six months to a year to transform. And men will make the transformation much more effortless than women. Women have to put in WORK to lose weight, and we need to practice patience to do so.

Unfortunately, challenges will enhance your anxiety and cause you to make poor decisions to win. You may decide to overtrain and brush off the importance of rest days. You then may choose to stack that with small and very few meals throughout the day. Which ultimately will cause you to crash and burn. Keeping you on this never-ending cycle.

With the summer weather quickly approaching and vacations being planned left and right, make sure you are making long-term goals and not right now goals. Long-term goals will be good for your soul, and a short term will lead you to possibly having a lifetime of ups and downs.

You could have chosen any blog to read, but you chose mine, and I’m honored!

~Belladonna~

29 Replies to “Weight Loss ~The Challenge Of It All~”

  1. You’re right! Weight loss is not a short term thing! Alas, our culture of instant gratification has led us to believe it is and thus folk who do not lose x amount of weight without starving themselves within y number of weeks feel disappointed and give up. I think it’s important to accept that it took x number of years to gain the weight and thus its unrealistic to safely shed it within a long period of time.

    Reply

    1. You hit it right on! It took awhile to get there so it will take a long while to get it off. It’s so crazy that people tink starvation is key or diets that tell you to stay away from fruit but you can eat all the bacon and cheese you desire.

      Reply

      1. Yes, it’s a hard thing to accept but once you do accept ot, then it makes things easier. If it took x years to put it on then it will take a year to lose it – properly and safely 🙂

  3. Belladonna, you have a very interesting name. May i be so direct to ask how it came. Quite distinctive.

    When i read the title of the blog i was about to sink into despair on this beautiful Autumn night.
    You have sweated by your own means and good habits. You are looking terrific.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy your evening!

      I was lucky enough to be called Belladonna when I was In college. My dance coach/instructor called me that from the moment we met and before I knew it all of the other dancers and instructors called be that as well. I liked it and kept it going! Thank you for asking. Maybe I’ll write about it because I have several people ask me. Thank you agin.

      Reply

      1. Oh thank you for taking time to honour the request. Now that you say, i see the strength of a dancer. The weight challenge should be pie for you.
        Thank you, i had an early evening. Enjoy yours

  4. I love how you share your experiences to help others feel better about their bodies. Health-related goals are good but not when they come at a big mental expense. Keep rockin’ it 💪

    Reply

  7. Really great post, Belladonna, I connected with your points a lot as I’ve lost a large amount of weight slowly over 8 months by myself, with exercise and good nutrition, rather than doing so very quickly as I used to. Thank you for sharing your experiences about the weight loss group. 🙂

    Reply

  9. I agree about challenges. Educating yourself about nutrition and fitness is the best path-along with patience! Have a great day 🙂

    Reply

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