Does weight loss feel miserable? For many of us, the answer is a resounding YES! Keep reading for how to end weight loss misery.
Many of us approach weight loss with a list of “rules” that make it feel like yet another chore—something we have to do. But what if I told you there’s a way to make this journey feel lighter, more enjoyable, and even empowering?
It all starts with one simple mindset shift: replacing “I have to” with “I get to.”
Whenever I was on a diet, everything felt like a burden:
- “I have to skip dessert.”
- “I have to find time to exercise.”
- “I have to cook something healthy.”
Each “have to” made me feel resentful, like I was punishing myself for not being good enough. But then, I decided to shift my thinking. What if these weren’t obligations? What if they were opportunities?
Suddenly, “I have to” became:
- “I get to nourish my body with wholesome food.”
- “I get to move and strengthen my body in ways that feel good.”
- “I get to choose habits that support my energy and health.”
This small change made a huge difference. Gratitude turned my weight loss journey into an act of self-love rather than just another to-do list item.
When you approach your choices with gratitude, everything shifts:
- Empowerment, Not Obligation: You’re no longer forcing yourself to follow rules. You’re choosing actions that care for your body and health.
- Enjoyment Instead of Resentment: Gratitude reframes healthy habits as privileges rather than punishments.
- Long-Term Fulfillment: Instead of chasing short-term results, you’ll start appreciating the process itself—how good it feels to take care of you.
Ways to Use Gratitude in Your Day
Here are some simple ways to weave gratitude into your weight loss journey:
- Start Your Day with Gratitude As you write your daily plan, write a few things you are grateful for from the previous day. This is a great time to take notice of the non-scale victories.
- Reframe Tough Moments When you’re tempted to skip a healthy choice or feel like giving up, reframe the moment:
- “I get to prepare a meal that fuels me and supports my energy.”
- “I get to pause and choose what’s best for me right now.”
- “I get to choose progress.”
- Celebrate What You Have Focus on what your body can do right now, not just what you want it to be.
- “I’m thankful for my legs that carry me, my heart that beats, and the strength I’m building with every step.”
- “I’m thankful for the breath in my lungs.”
- “I’m thankful to have a body to experience this world in.”
By shifting from “have to” to “get to,” you’re no longer approaching your journey with a sense of dread. Instead, you’re celebrating your ability to care for yourself and make positive choices. This mindset makes the process more enjoyable and helps you stay consistent because you want to do these things—not because you’re forcing yourself to.
The beauty of gratitude is that it reminds you how much you’re already capable of and how far you’ve come. It’s a way of saying, “I’m doing this because I deserve to feel good, inside and out.”
I hope this small mindset shift gives you a new perspective and renewed hope for your weight loss journey. You don’t have to do anything—you get to take steps that nurture and love the amazing woman you are.
Your Coach,
Andrea