5 Things No One Tells You About Losing Weight

We are nearing the end of January already! This is the time of the year when people start to drop those high-hopes New Years resolutions they made while the air was still full of magic and hope (rather than bleary weather and depressing news reports.) Sometimes, when we get all caught up in the electric excitement of change, small things can catch us off-guard and slow our progress. Here are 5 things I've learned in my weight lost journey so far:

#1: You'll have to replace your clothes

Initially, this part excited me the most: thinking about all the cute stuff I could wear when I felt more comfortable and confident in my shape. But replacing your wardrobe is not cheap, especially if you have to do it a handful of times before you hit your goal weight. If you're not a big shopper, it can be frustrating, maybe even frustrating enough to tempt you to quit. Losing inches off your waistline happens faster than you think it does, but slower than you want it to. It's like going through a reverse-growth-spurt. I've only lost 15 pounds, but the brand-new jeans I bought in November already don't fit!

Depending on how much you have to lose, keeping a few pieces that can accommodate several sizes can be cost-effective and keep your style "you" while you shed down to your goal weight. Kimonos, cardigans, duster vests, jackets, and plaid shirts can stick with you a lot longer than you think, since many of them are "one size fits all," or can pass off that way. Replace basic pieces, like plain t's and camis, as often as you need; most of these can be as low as $8 each. If you are prone to thrifting, you might be able to switch up your wardrobe as much as you want for less than half of what you'd spend at a department store.

If you splurge on anything during your weight loss journey, it should be pants. I'm all about comfort, and finding comfortable jeans that fit at thrift stores is harder than finding Waldo on the 4th of July. I'm not about to go out and drop $80 per pair, but grabbing a pair from Old Navy during a sale is worth the cost when I know I'll be more comfortable.

This is the part no one told me: YOU HAVE TO REPLACE YOUR UNDERWEAR. I never thought about it until I got wedgies walking around at work. Turns out, I went down a size! Since I still have a long way to go until I hit my goal weight, I only plan on buying enough to get me through a week or so. I haven't had to purchase any new bras yet, but now I have a better idea of what exactly I'll need to replace as I continue to hit my milestones.

#2: You may have to update your ID

This was a problem my partner, Marco, encountered. Recently, we went to our first concert in Columbus. I was excited, Marco was excited, and we got everything together to have a grand old time. The venue had a large bar, so they checked ID's at the door and everyone over 21 was given a wristband. When Marco pulled out his license for the security guard, the guy did a double-take, and almost didn't let us in! Marco now and Marco 60 pounds ago look like two completely different people. He still has another 60 or so pound to go before he hits his goal weight, so we may have to update his license again by the end of the year. We were able to convince the guard that Marco was, in fact, the same person on his license, but I wouldn't want to try to have that conversation with a police officer or have to convince someone more important than a bouncer that Marco didn't steal or buy a fake ID, especially since we live in a college town.

#3: Everyone will try to give you advice

As soon as people noticed I was losing weight, they started giving me advice. I mean, I believe that I can learn something from everyone, but wouldn't you think that my friends and coworkers would have been interested in what's already working for me? Nope, they wanted to give advice first and foremost.

Be prepared with a response to these well-intentioned amateur sages. They don't (usually) mean you harm, although they can be frustrating and hurtful without realizing. My go-to response depends on the situation and how well I know the person: if it's someone I barely know, just a "thank you" is good enough; they'll never know if you took their advice or not. If it's someone you know enough to see them often, such as a coworker you see in passing or a family friend, let them know you appreciate their advice and may try it out, but don't promise them you will. If they bring it up again, just mention that it didn't work for your routine. My go-to (and this worked for acne treatments too) is to deflect blame onto medical professionals: "Oh, thanks for the thought, but my doctor actually told me that wouldn't work for me/not to combine that with what they've prescribed me/my treatment plan." For close friends and relatives, their advice is most likely coming out of love, and sometimes they do have good ideas. I'll look into anything, and I'll usually try anything once!

#4: It's really hard, and really easy at the same time.

Weight loss, at its most basic, is simply eating less and moving more. I can't tell you how many times my dad has told me this! There are just an overwhelming amount of options for you to choose for your 'weight loss journey'. There are diets, workouts, apps, books, DVDs, podcasts, TV doctors, etc., and most of them claim to know the "secret" behind why you aren't losing weight and what you need to do to fix it. But the reality is, cutting back the amount of calories you are consuming and increasing the amount of exercise you get is the "magic" solution.

The hard part is actually doing it. It's not fun cutting back your calorie intake and feeling hungry in between meals. It's not glamorous to run until your muscles are screaming at you to stop or until you're so sweaty, it's stinging your eyes. Losing weight- and keeping it off- is hard work. You aren't going to like it all the time, and especially at the beginning, you're probably going to feel like giving up a million times. You will only see results if you keep going in the right direction.

A way to make this easier on yourself is to do a self-check before you buy a gym membership or spend hundreds of dollars on designer workout clothes. Is there an activity you already enjoy? If so, give yourself more opportunities to go do that, rather than force yourself to run on a treadmill in the same room with 25 other sweaty people gasping for breath (unless gyms are your thing, then keep going to the gym!) The point is to be more physically active, not to force yourself to do something you hate.

#5: It's more mental than physical.

Yes, weight loss is a physical change that results from physically moving your body, but getting in the right mindset can be the hardest part of losing weight. I've been overweight since I was 10 years old, and have fallen into the "obese" category for at least 8 years now. I feel like I've tried everything, but mostly, I've tried many things once or twice, and then gave up before I could begin to see results. I came up with a million excuses: it's too hard, it's too expensive, it's not for me, it's not my fault, etc. Well, I was wrong: It is my fault. I'm the one who keeps binging Netflix shows on the couch instead of on the treadmill. I'm also the one eating all this terrible food!

I saw results last fall because I spent several months putting myself into the right mindset. I started with acknowledging where I was, and that included stepping on the scale, taking measurements, and some "before" pictures. December 2018, I made myself a vision/goal board for 2019 and I included motivational pictures about weight loss and strength. I joined a gym, took Marco on hiking dates, and bought a yoga mat and hand weights. I thought hard about what type of exercise would best fit into my schedule and how long I should dedicate time every day/week. I read some self-help books last year that helped me see myself in a different angle, and I was more patient with myself. I forgave myself for messing up when I fell of my diet or skipped my routine, and then started over the next day. I still have lots of days where I mess up or feel like giving up, and days where I do give up and eat way too many Reese's Cups. But my mindset is changed; I want to see change, I'm willing to change, and I am more aware of how my actions affect my outcome. Most of all, I know how important it is to talk to myself with more kindness and patience. Getting to the mindset of change might take a little longer than you want, depending on what your life has looked like so far. It's up to you to shape your mindset, but hammering away at the way you think about yourself will make your weight loss journey so much easier.

I hope you don't give up on whatever New Year's resolutions you've made, weight loss/fitness or otherwise.