The Healthiest Weight Loss Starts from Within

Weight loss has been quite a journey for me. Eating right and exercising? A joy!

Can you hear the sarcasm dripping off those statements? Because if you did, you're right.

As a woman who’s been overweight for most of her adult life, losing weight hasn’t exactly been a thrilling mission. But now, with medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy on the market, it seems like many others in my shoes can finally envision a future where they don’t feel stuffed into their clothes and can feel more at home in their own skin.

But now more than ever, it’s important to pause and ask: Why do we want to lose weight? That answer isn’t always simple. Sure, improving our health is the best and most valid reason. And if everything else has failed, using these medications to support that goal makes sense.

But if the motivation stems from pressure, social, romantic, or internalized shame, those drugs might only bring more stress, not satisfaction.

Here are some reasons to lose weight that often leave us feeling empty:

• To silence a critical family member

• To appear more desirable on the dating scene

• Because of low self-esteem

• To avoid judgment at your next doctor’s appointment

  
  

I’ve ticked every one of those boxes.

I’ve wanted to lose weight for men. I’ve dreaded doctor visits, embarrassed by the number on the scale. I’ve been surrounded by people who made me feel small emotionally because I was big physically. And yes, I’ve looked in the mirror and hated what I saw.

But what if we didn’t live in a world where people constantly commented on each other’s bodies? What if we chose to lose weight because we wanted to and not because someone else made us feel bad about our belly rolls in a dress or stared at our ankles in disgust?

When you commit to a healthy journey for yourself—not because your boyfriend thinks you should drop two sizes (by the way, you should dump him immediately if he does)—you’re more prepared for the real challenges: learning patience, getting comfortable in your skin, and being kind to yourself when progress isn’t immediate.

Losing weight can be wonderful, but it should come with a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. There’s no quick fix. Yes, medications can help the scale move faster, but if you’re not eating well or moving your body regularly, the weight can return just as fast. And the slimmer image you worked so hard to project for others, not yourself, will fade just as quickly.

I have days when I just want a prescription and a magic solution. Because at my age, dropping pounds isn’t as easy as it once was. It’s hard. But I know I won’t feel fulfilled if I rely only on medicine without building healthier habits. I’ll need those habits for the rest of my life.

That kind of commitment only lasts when your why is rooted in you and no one else.