The 5 Emotional Stages Everyone Goes Through While Trying To Lose Weight

by Eliza Kingsford

This article was adapted from Brain-Powered Weight Loss by Eliza Kingsford, licensed psychotherapist, and provided by our partners at Rodale Wellness. 

Losing weight, no matter how much or how little, is no joke. Most times it takes an overhaul of your lifestyle habits, coping mechanisms (example: stress eating M & M's), and daily rituals. When you revamp everything in hopes of living your best, healthiest life, things are bound to get crazy-emotional. There are 5 stages you'll experience as you progress on your fat loss journey.

You may find yourself moving in and out of these 5 stages many times. This is normal. Start expecting to fluctuate between moments of motivation and considering giving up your new lifestyle. Crossing these hurdles means you'll be on course to reach your goals. You'll know you're there when you've conquered the goal of loving your new lifestyle.

1). The Honeymoon: This is your kickoff motivating phase. ("Wow! Six pounds in just two weeks!") And like the honeymoon stage in a relationship, this phase of losing weight is so called because you want it to last forever—but it usually doesn't. You're excited maybe even exhilarated and ready to make changes. It’s all exciting and new, with endless possibilities on the horizon.

2). Frustration: Following the honeymoon bliss, the dreaded plateau starts to set in. ("I didn't lose a thing for two weeks and then the scale went up!") This is the part of the weight-loss game when you begin to recognize that planning for weight-loss success is a commitment; it can be time consuming and even tedious, and that can make you feel strained. On the bright side, this happens to nearly everyone who sets out to get in shape. The important thing is that you reassess your strategy and continue to make sustainable changes that result in more healthy weight loss over the long term.
 
3). Tentative Acceptance: This stage happens when trying to lose weight starts to feel like a tentative reality: You see yourself getting there, but you realize it's going to take more time and fair amount of continuing effort. While that's incredibly annoying, keep in mind that a healthy speed of weight loss is one to two pounds per week. As you've probably noticed, it often goes even slower than that. Just don't let that pace keep you from pursuing your healthy habits week after week.

4). Ambivalence: A stage of ambivalence usually enters months down the road when you start thinking, "Holy crap, this weight-management thing is going to be going on forever." That's when motivation really starts to slip. To stay on top of your game, set small, achievable goals every day, week, and/or month. When you accomplish little things like reaching your water intake goal or making it to the gym more than twice a week, you'll be more inspired to stick with your new lifestyle, and continue to implement other changes as you go. Don't let the scale be your sole source of encouragement.

5). Fear of the Future: Some people who see themselves losing a significant amount of weight will be confronted with this fifth stage of weight loss. This is when you realize you are presenting the world with a new persona. ("Will I still be me and will people like what they see?") This usually happens to people who start out obese and have a significant amount of weight to lose. Remember, losing weight doesn't change who you are at your inner-most levels. While you might feel more confident, energized, and awesome about yourself, you're still you at your core. And that's a great thing!

Why Losing Weight Is Like Groundhog Day

by Tom Venuto 

In a small town in Pennsylvania, there is a long-standing tradition with the Famous groundhog, Punxsatawney Phil. On February 2nd, the furry little critter crawls out of his den and if he sees his shadow, it means there will be 6 more weeks of winter.  Usually he does, though I always hope otherwise – I would prefer an early spring! Anyway, seeing this amusing American holiday on the news again got me thinking… for most people, weight loss is a lot like groundhog day…

Why Weight Loss Is a Lot Like Groundhog Day: Before I became a full time author, writer and online publisher, I used to work in health clubs. For 14 years, I was a trainer and gym manager, and every January, there was a huge influx of new members. Unfortunately, most of them were GONE by February! I swear this is not “urban legend” or an exaggeration – it’s absolutely true.  I used to print out the attendance records to prove it!

The attendance spike in January and the subsequent dip in February were unbelievable. So much for new year’s resolutions.

Did you ever think about what the word “resolution” implies? If you look at the roots of the word, it comes from comes from “resolute” which means a firm determination. But here’s something that most people rarely consider: Words carry certain associations and ambiguities, not necessarily related to their Latin roots.

What I find ironic is that if you sound it out, “resolve” sounds like “RE-solve” as in: to solve the SAME problem again and again, and again and again. Did you ever see that movie (1993), Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, where he wakes up every morning only to re-live the same day over and over again?

Well, for many people, this time of year is like “Groundhog Day for weight loss” – re-living that same 20 pound weight loss from past years, over and over and over again. What could be more frustrating? Isn’t it finally time to stop that madness?

You can make your goals and intentions stick this year – all year – and keep your progress steamrolling forward for life… an unstoppable YOU. It simply takes a different approach than the way most people are doing it every January.

Forget the old approach: Once a year resolutions, quick fixes (pills, fad diets, etc), losing weight (& not just fat…). 

This is the new, superior approach: Continuous goal setting combined with purpose, lifestyle change, burning fat & building muscle.

People know that resolutions usually don’t stick, but rather than learning the art of constantly setting real goals which move them step by step along a lifetime path with purpose, they make resolutions again every year anyway.

They pursue the latest, trendiest, newest diet or exercise fad instead of working on the admittedly boring, but effective fundamentals and proven principles (which never change).

They’re focused only on quick results without a long-term growth mindset. And, they’re so caught up in the scale, that all they care about is how much weight they lose, not their all-important body composition (the ratio of muscle to fat).

Thus, with the old approach: You temporarily lose weight and fit in smaller clothes, but you don’t look good out of clothes – you’re just a smaller but still squishy version of your old self… a “skinny fat person.” You start out in a fiery burst of New Year enthusiasm, only to burn out, sometimes in less than a month, and gain back all the weight you lost… Where it sticks on your belly until next January, when you start the cycle of insanity all over again.

Insanity: Continuing to do the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result.

If you want to make real health and body changes that stick, it’s time to change your approach. If you make small, sustainable goals, then achieve them, you then will discover new health, fitness and performance goals to set – trust me, you will – so the health and fitness journey never ends.

“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.” – Thomas Carlyle

To make this happen, you have to change your mindset.

7 Rice Krispie Treat Recipes That Are Even Better Than the Original

by Catherine Northington

Gone are the rice krispie treats of your childhood; here to stay are the new and improved versions of a confectionery classic! Thanks to the creativity of dessert lovers around the world, these simple no-bake sweets have been getting some amazing makeovers as of late, and just a few added ingredients will transform your treats from average to amazing.

Try these seven inspired variations on rice krispie treats for a quick, easy, and delicious sweet that everyone will love.

1. White Chocolate Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats

“These cake batter rice krispie treats are SUPER easy to make and full of festive sprinkles. And since they’re cake batter flavored, it’s almost like baking a cake without turning the oven on,” writes Butterlust. This simple recipe begins with standard rice krispie treat ingredients, but packs in the flavor with some yellow (or Funfetti) cake mix and white chocolate chips. Once you’ve got them in the pan, drape those treats with melted white chocolate and drop rainbow sprinkles on top for a creation as fun as it is flavorful!

Visit Butterlust for the recipe.

2. S’more Rice Krispie Treats

“Separately, s’mores and rice krispie squares are two childhood pleasures that I’m sure everyone tried when they were little and LOVED. Put them together and these s’mores rice krispies will bring out anyone’s giddy, childhood memories,” writes Port and Fin. Whether or not you’re sitting around a campfire, these treats are a marvelous dessert choice, offering all the best flavors and textures of the two beloved desserts in one rich combination. You’ll have these S’more Rice Krispie Treats on the table in under 20 minutes!

Visit Port and Fin for the recipe.

3. Golden Oreo Rice Krispie Treats

Pies and Plots calls these golden Oreo rice krispie treats “the gooiest, chewiest, softest Rice Krispie Treats you’ve ever tasted.” And considering the fact they take under 20 minutes to complete, this sounds like something worth trying! The dessert consists of golden Oreo chunks mixed in with rice krispies and marshmallow, all resting atop a rich and buttery golden Oreo crust. We doubt your guests will be able to resist!

Visit Pies and Plots for the recipe.

4. Nutella Cookie Dough Rice Krispie Treats

Nutella and cookie dough offer two of the most delicious flavors in the world of desserts, and combining them in these marshmallowy treats culminates in a sinfully delicious snack. Crazy Adventures in Parenting echoes the sentiment, writing “I love cookie dough, chocolate, Nutella, peanut butter, Rice Krispies treats®, and making my favorite things even awesomer by combining them.” Biscoff cookies, almond butter, and chocolate chips come together with rice krispies to form the base of this treat, and those sweets are all topped off with an irresistible trifecta of Nutella, chocolate, and peanut butter.

Visit Crazy Adventures In Parenting for the recipe.

5. Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats

“These Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats will not last long when you take them to picnics or parties,” warns Inside Bru Crew Life. You’ll begin by creating peanut butter-infused rice krispie treats, inside which you’ll sandwich Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for a perfect taste of peanut butter and chocolatey indulgence. Just be sure to have a glass of milk at the ready! The recipe takes a quick 15 minutes to prepare and yields 24 chewy bars of deliciousness.

Visit Inside Bru Crew Life for the recipe.

6. Milky Way Rice Krispie Treats

“Classic Rice Krispies topped with caramel and chocolate make the perfect Milky Way Rice Krispie Treats,” observes Your Cup of Cake. Rather than using the actual candy bar for this dish, you’ll rely on caramel candies and chocolate chips to achieve a similarly delightful flavor. It doesn’t get much simpler than that! For best results, let these treats chill for a while before serving — this will allow the chocolate to set over top of your dessert.

Visit Your Cup of Cake for the recipe.

7. Peppermint Bark Treats

“These bad boys have all of the awesome elements of peppermint bark, but they’re so much better,” declares Domesticate Me. We’re hard-pressed to argue! This superb dish consists of Oreos, marshmallows, and rice krispies, plus a double dose of chocolate (both white and dark — yum!). You’ll love the refreshing taste of mint combined with rich flavors of buttery cookies and chocolate.

Visit Domesticate Me for the recipe.

This 77-year-old grandma can lift more than you

Go granny!

This 77-year-old grandma can lift more than you

Treating and Recovering from Achilles Injury

Since I retired, I was able to increase the level of my training significantly. I was given a Fitbit as a gift last August, so I began using it to track my activities. This has been a great help, and from the chart you can see how my effort has improved in such a short time. This has affected my weight, my metabolism, my energy level, and my desire to continue. I still have a long way to go, but everyday since I started I feel better and more encouraged to keep it going. In fact, when I have to skip days, I feel like I am cheating myself and falling off the path. Maybe this is a good thing.



Over the last couple days though, I have felt the right Achilles tendon become sore. It seemed to come on all of a sudden and although I went ahead and ran yesterday, I knew if I didn't make a change, I would only aggravate the situation. And since I was on such a positive roll, I wanted to make sure I give myself the proper care and recovery, so I can get back to my regular training effort.

After doing a little research, I found a few sites with some helpful information. If you are feeling the affects of something like this, I hope these will offer a little help.
Good luck and take care. Waiting to address problems like this will only postpone your effort to get back doing the things you love to do.

Owner's Manual: treating and recovering from Achilles injury

The Ultimate Runner's Guide to Achilles Tendon Injuries

Achilles Tendonitis Treatment