Today, we will discuss another facet of long-term weight loss management- encouraging and discouraging experiences. Last time, we examined people’s challenges and how they can be overcome. After facing several challenges and succeeding, most people note that these challenges were an encouraging experience that made them feel liberated and motivated! In short, these challenges empower you- they become encouraging experiences! What other encouraging experiences, and what kind of encouragement can you seek? What do discouraging experiences look like, and what do they mean for you?
The most prominent discouraging experience is the fear of gaining the weight you’ve lost and the fear that these new, healthier habits won’t stick in the long term. Believe it or not, fear after success is normal for many people. We all sometimes remember how we felt physically and mentally worse overall before establishing a fitness-based lifestyle, which can lead to fear and discouragement when faced with challenges. Instead of fearing what may happen in the future, continually remind yourself of the challenges you have already overcome! Go back and look through your old journals and compare your goals and achievements from when you started this journey to the present day, and focus on the people who encourage you instead of those who try to bring you down. Turn your fear into motivation to keep going and hit new goals- remember that this is under your control. Fearing failure is normal, but don’t let it hold you back from future success!
The good news is that discouraging experiences, when overcome, lead to lifelong empowerment and change! Plus, you can actively seek out encouraging experiences. Encouraging experiences include (but, of course, are not limited to- you can find encouragement in many places!) finding a new community that uplifts you on your fitness journey, establishing a new identity, and reinvention of lifestyle. One of our favorites is finding community!
Finding a new community can be difficult, especially because not everyone in your life will acknowledge or support you in your fitness journey. In various studies we have read, the sense of community people felt, and their encouragement from being a part of those communities was among the most notable encouraging experiences. This makes sense- when the peer group you had before making a positive change does not support their new healthy lifestyle, it can be frustrating, and you can easily slide back into old habits.
At Fit, we 100% support you in your fitness journey, no matter what that journey looks like. We have a great community of members and trainers who consistently encourage and uplift each other! Finding a community with the same fitness-based mindset gives you a new sense of purpose- channel your energy by educating yourself and taking cues from your peers! We know it can initially seem daunting, but we promise you’ll fit into our community just great!
Through trial and tribulation, and ultimately success, comes a new sense of self, a reinvention of lifestyle and outlook that serves you for the rest of your life! This is hands-down the most encouraging thing about establishing a more fitness-minded approach to life. Those who can achieve long-term weight management and regular exercise often experience the development of new identities- they have transformed into people who lead healthy lives, take more chances, and pursue opportunities that they would have found initially daunting. This newfound sense of self causes is evidence that you changed in a positive direction, and the confidence gained in your fitness journey bleeds into every aspect of your life!
No matter what stage you are in on your fitness journey, remember that with every step you take, you gain motivation and increase your confidence in this aspect of your life and everything you do. There is no better feeling than knowing that you succeeded and, ultimately, YOU are the reason YOU made a positive change in your life! Never downplay the effort you’ve put in, regardless of whether you started today or years ago!