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5 Qualities Every Weight Loss Individual Needs
I recently listened to my daughter’s soccer coach discuss the upcoming tryouts for the fall season. As he spoke, his words resonated with me. As a Personal Trainer, who has dealt with many weight loss clients over the years, I found that losing weight is a tough journey to tackle. It’s not just hitting the gym, but exploring the struggles with food and learning to live in a completely different way. Coach Mark’s words connected with me because they are precisely what a weight loss individual needs to take on their journey ahead.
The 5 Qualities Every Weight Loss Individual Needs
- Skills – You need to learn the necessary skills for weight loss. These skills will become your toolbox you can carry around with you for the rest of your life. Working with a Personal Trainer and Registered Dietitian can help you develop the skills in the gym for strength training, flexibility, balance, ways to be active outside the gym and healthier eating habits. If you don’t have the necessary skills to move forward, your journey will be that much tougher.
- Attitude – You have to have a positive attitude if you are going to make the decision to lose weight. You also have to have the attitude that you are ready for a change. The weight loss journey is extremely difficult. You’ll be asked to change habits that are ingrained in you. There will be ups and downs. A positive attitude, with the drive to change, will help you make it through the rough spots. The Mayo Clinic notes there are many health benefits that come with a positive attitude. Their staff says,
“One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It’s also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and don’t smoke or drink alcohol in excess.”
- Effort – Effort is defined as exertion of physical or mental power. Weight loss will require both physical and metal power. You have to be ready to put forth the effort to make changes in your life. Without effort, your likely to slip back into old habits. Be prepared to work hard along this journey.
- Grit – My daughter’s coach described grit as “working hard when everything around you is going wrong.” The dictionary defines it as “indomitable spirit.” This is POWERFUL, not only for weight loss but life itself. Possessing grit can get you through the toughest times in life. Athletes need grit to get to the top of their sport. And weight loss clients need it to get through tough workouts, to battle food issues and keep them moving forward when they face setbacks. This is one quality you need to dig deep to find.
- Coachable – This may be one of the most important qualities you need to acquire/possess to take on your weight loss journey…being coachable. Weight loss takes a team effort. You need the support of your family and friends. As I mentioned above, it’s also beneficial to have a Personal Trainer and Registered Dietitian in the beginning to help you develop the necessary skills and coach you through the process. If you aren’t coachable, you’re going to have a hard time moving forward through this journey. Laura Probert, MPT notes,
“If you’re any kind of person who wishes to grow, learn, improve, excel or peak perform, you should care about whether or not you’re coachable. In other words, being coachable relates to a happy, productive life. It means you’re ready to do what it takes to change, transform, improve or excel, whatever that means for you and your situation.
Laura’s words hit the nail on the head. To lose weight, you have to do what it takes to “change, transform, improve and excel.”
The weight loss journey is just that… it’s a lifelong journey. Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight, habits aren’t formed overnight and progress is slow. But, the journey is worth it. You can look forward to a life where you have energy, move well, have confidence and experience excitement to try new things. With a lighter load, life becomes more livable. I hope you’ll explore these qualities and work on building them into our life as you take that first step to losing weight!
Please let me know how your journey is going or what qualities you think should be added to this list.
Inspire One Wellness 
I agree!! Very well said. It takes so many elements to lose weight- especially to keep it off. People always say “I know what to do”, but it’s so much more than that.
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