Why you have not Lost That Weight Yet

Is this a safe space?

Let’s be honest, we all have at one point or the other in our lives, stared at the mirror and immediately hated what we saw. So many questions that have answers only you could answer. “Why hasn’t this weight shifted?” “Even with all those workout sessions?” ...

I know you probably won’t tell yourself truth, so don’t worry. I have the answers, and I’ll hold your hands and look into your eyes while I say them. This is why you have not lost that weight:

1. You lack discipline:

One minute you’re up by 2am because you’re binge watching a Netflix series (which is perfectly fine, by the way), and the next minute you’re having “a quick quick snack”. Please explain to yourself (because it’s not my problem) why you’re sweating over a bowl of Eba and okro by that ungodly hour!

2. You over pressure yourself:

A famous Yoruba adage goes: àsejù l’olórun ò fé (God does not like when you overdo things). What is your problem? You’re new to the gym business, yet you’ve registered and told hour trainer you’d be there 7 days a week. That same you, you have classes 5 days a week (8am- 6pm) plus other activities. That, to me is a very attractive recipe for “burn- out”. It’s either you get too overwhelmed that you don’t go at all, or you eventually skip the days that are most important for you to actually lose the weight. Why not do 3 times a week, and save yourself and your money?

3. You’re delulu:

The number one thing on your August goal is to lose 40kg. For context, 40kg is about 88 pounds. In a month. You better go and calm down! Except if you plan on doing it by other means, the recommended metric by dieticians and doctors is to lose 0.5 – 1kg per week. You need to understand that these things take time. Don’t set unrealistic goals for yourself because in the long run, the only thing you’d have achieved is successfully deceiving yourself and not shedding off weight.

4. You take ‘guilty pleasure’ literally:

Yes, you’ve finished your exams, and you deserve a treat. I’m not your dietician or stomach police more so, you’re not a child, you make your own decisions, so I won’t be here telling you not to have that wrap of pleasure and feel a little guilty after. But, you know, in your heart of heart, that you like àsejù. Now you’re there deceiving yourself, acting all shocked at the 1kg you just added. You’re funny!

5. You reward every effort with food:

You did 20 push-ups today? And for that, you deserve a plate of shawarma. You climb small stairs, and you tell yourself you’ve earned you some ice cream? Oh, be for real! If your reward system keeps outpacing your workouts, the math will never math.

6. You think life is a bed of roses:

Motivation is great, but it comes and goes. What happens when your gym buddy is out of town? Or when your roommate, that usually holds your legs when you're doing your sit-ups, is asleep?  You have to take the bull by the horn! Discipline is what makes you get up and move even when you’d rather be Netflix n’ chilling!

7. You make excuses for yourself

I know that you don’t have money for gym subscription, but you and I know that if you wanted to make it work you would. You’d trek instead of climbing Okada to every lecture venue. You’d buy a skipping rope and skip every morning. You’d jog to your school’s gate every weekend, but no, you’d rather hide under the fact that you’re a little broke this month. Well-done!

Now that you know why you’re still the way you are, it’s left to you to do with these piece of information as you deem fit.

You’re welcome!