What You Lose and What You Gain

Sometimes, health journeys are cast in terms of things to lose. You can lose weight, lose the sugar, or lose the alcohol. Some things can be good to lose: despair, self-hatred, loneliness, disease, and inflammation. It is true that there are things that must be lost in order to achieve your goals. 

However, a health journey is also about what you gain: confidence, health, peace, skill sets, nourishment, rest, energy, vitality, vibrance, and purpose. Holding these things in balance can help you stay the course when things get tough, and can help you make the changes you need if you get off track. 

Here are a handful of tips to maximize your gains:

1. Find ways to move.

   Movement can help you gain strength, flexibility, endurance, and relief from stress. The most important thing to remember about movement is that consistency is more important than intensity. Your body will benefit from simply taking a walk every day. You can seek out more specific training if you are interested in increasing your gains in a certain area, such as weight training to increase strength or yoga classes to increase flexibility, but truly just adding movement to your day will bring you benefits. Simple activities such as five minutes of stretching in the morning and at night, bodyweight exercises such as a set of squats or pushups (even just against the wall), and walking are all ways to incorporate movement into your routine. 

2. Plan your consumption.

   To gain time and energy, take note of what you are consuming, mentally and physically. By making choices about what you take in, you can choose to consume things that will build you up and nourish your mind and body. Doomscrolling and mindless snacking will both sap your energy and leave you feeling depleted. You can focus instead on choosing your sources carefully, and finding things that will give you what you really need, whether that is concise information, inspiration, and education, or a nutritional boost. 

3. Keep the long view.

   Focus on the big reasons that you want to make a change. Root your goals in love and purpose, and the importance of those long-term gains will far outweigh the short-term losses. Write these big reasons down. Say them out loud. Read them over to yourself every day. It can also help to ask yourself, “What will happen if I don’t make a change?” Every day is a new day, with new opportunities to make small changes and course corrections that will keep the forward momentum of your journey.

What is one last important thing to gain on your weight loss journey? You can reach out to gain community, support, and knowledge. If you are seeking like-minded community you can join the Tribe at TruBalanceHealth.com, or you can increase your knowledge with the Lifestyle Mastery for Health e-course. All TruBalance offices are set up for virtual appointments if you would prefer individualized support. Today, focus on your gains!