Weight loss, as a goal, is crappy. When we have weight loss as a goal, we have the wrong homing beacon, and therefore, we can give ourselves the wrong guidance on our weight wellness path.

In order to create the lives we want, we need to be clear about what it is we want to create. Sounds simple, but in pursuing weight loss, so many of us aren’t doing this. We imagine the body at the weight we desire, and how we’ll be all good once we get there. We don’t spend enough time imagining living in that body, and what we will have to have in place to continue living in that body.

We do what we think we need to do to lose weight, but it is not the same as doing what creates the lives we want to continue living once we lose the weight. When we think hitting a weight target is the goal, we think we can kick it into high gear by “white knuckling” and forcing ourselves to eat less, fight urges, punish ourselves with exercise. Because we only have to do this until we reach our goal, right? This leaves us stressed out, undernourished, and exhausted.

Is it any wonder that so many people gain weight back with this type of strategy? Their goal likely didn’t include strategy for creating a life that they would and could continue.

All along, I am asking myself, “Is this something I will want to continue doing for the long run?” If it’s not, I don’t do it.

An example for me right now is running. I was into running a few years ago, and liked doing 5k races. However, it did take a toll on my body with some injuries, and I started to dread the training after a while. Recently, it seems all the people around me are into, or getting back into running. My son is doing track, my daughter, Girls on the Run. My inlaws are back into running. Friends are signing up for races. I could go on. So, I started to think, maybe I should get back into running…. But, when I really do a gut check, I don’t find that I can honestly say I would want to continue doing it for the long run. This is totally ok. I might find my answer changes later on, but right now, it’s a no. But, when I think about yoga, it’s an easy yes. I can totally keep doing yoga.

Weight maintenance can, and I would argue, should, start even before we start trying to change our behaviors (“trying to lose weight”). We need to become aware of where we are, and really determine where we want to be. Where we want to be is not a number on the scale, it is a sustainable, enjoyable and healthy life. What does that look like?

We can lose weight simply by starting to live the healthy life we want to continue living, and the weight will start to fall in line.

I believe that thinking from this vantage point will allow us to be realistic about finding a path that we feel good about – a path that is energizing, sustainable, and creates joy.