Weight loss journeys tend to be emotional endeavors. Even more than the physical barriers and logistical obstacles we deal with, our emotional patterns or reactions can be the hardest to overcome.

I’ve seen this happen over and over again, whether clients' emotions buoy them in tough times, slow down their journeys, or completely sabotage them.

Whatever the case, when I meet with a client to map out his or her weight loss program, we not only come up with new goals and behavior changes, but also identify what emotional "homework” may need to happen on the backend.

I've identified eight common insights that my clients have experienced in their weight loss and fitness journeys, along with suggestions for steering these realizations toward further success. Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or somewhere in the middle of it, each can help you reflect on your own emotional experiences and help guide you in times to come. 

Article ShortcutsYou are NOT a math problem. You may have some break-ups. You feel like the odd man out at the gym. Grocery shopping can feel overwhelming.You realize you’ve stopped taking care of yourself. You have the ability to self-sabotage out of guilt.You realize that you’ve taught poor habits to someone else. How you see yourself may take time to catch up with how your body changes. 

You are NOT a math problem. 

There are so many dimensions to this one. First and foremost, you’re not your numbers — and your journey will be so much more than the digits.

Beyond this key emotional realization, you’ll come to see how the insight also plays into the weight loss process itself. The fact is, our society has handed down the idea that we can control the amount of weight we lose each week simply by controlling the calories we eat and burn off.

You may know people who consistently lost 1–2 pounds each week until they met their goal. Once you’re on your weight loss journey, however, you realize how much more complicated our metabolisms can be and how many other factors impact our ability to burn and lose fat.

As much of a necessary reality check this insight offers, it may also be disappointing when you want the ability to control your success.

Prepare yourself by not making an outcome goal each week (e.g. I want to lose 2 pounds this week). Instead, be tolerant and accepting of your body's process.

There may be weeks when two-plus pounds fall off and other weeks when your weight doesn’t budge. The point is, stay consistent with your new healthy behaviors that provide good signals to your metabolism.

When your metabolism is optimally functioning, the weight will come off.

You may have some break-ups. 

When you start your weight loss journey, not everyone around you may be on board with your plan or even like the idea of you becoming healthier.

This creates additional stress on you (which can get in the way of your weight loss), but may also help you become more aware of who your true friends are and who has the best intentions for you.

Perhaps the coworker you usually eat lunch with finds you're no longer fun to be around, or your significant other decides he or she just isn’t ready to embrace the new lifestyle you are embarking on.

Whatever the case, accept that not every relationship will stay the same. Now is the time to seek the right support, whether you enlist a formal support group, find a fitness buddy, use online forums, or work with a personal coach. 

You feel like the odd man out at the gym.