Six years ago, when I started my journey, I was more lost and overwhelmed than I’d ever been. Nothing stressed me out more than the thought of actually making weight loss a reality for myself. I didn’t know where to start, what to believe, or how to stay consistent . I just knew I couldn’t keep living the way I was.
I thought if I just pushed harder and ate less, everything would fall into place. But it didn’t. In fact, that mindset is what made the process feel even harder. Looking back now, there are so many things I wish I had known when I started, things that would’ve saved me time, frustration, and a lot of self-doubt. So today, I’m sharing the 5 things I wish I knew when I started my fitness journey, in hopes that it helps someone else skip the confusion and start with a little more clarity!
1. Throw away your bathroom scale
When I first started, I stepped on the scale every single day. If the number went down, I felt proud. If it went up , even by half a pound, it ruined my mood and made me question if I was wasting my time.
I would "eat good" and workout all week, then I would step on the scale, see no change and automatically believe that weight loss was not meant for me. I would get frustrated and cope by diving into the entire pack of family sized Oreos while feeling sorry for myself , which only left me in a revolving door of disappointment . Sound familiar?
Truth is , the scale is actually one of the last signs of progress when it comes to weight loss, especially if you began lifting weights. Your body can fluctuate for a hundred reasons that cause that silly number to change, that have nothing to do with fat loss. Water, hormones, stress, even how much salt you ate the night before are all factors that can make this number jump and send you into a spiral. For me, weight loss started once I looked past that number. I kept showing up even when it didn't budge. Even when I doubted if it ever would. Because the moment I shifted my focus from the number changing to me changing, everything started to click.
2. You can't hate your body into change.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably told yourself, “I’ll be happy once I lose the weight.”
Coming from the girl who finally lost it, i’m here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Happiness isn’t a destination, and it’s definitely not something you unlock once you look a certain way. I used to believe that changing my body would automatically change how I felt about myself. But the truth is, no physical transformation can fix what’s rooted in self-criticism. Real transformation starts when you stop trying to punish your body and start learning to care for it. When your motivation shifts from hate to love, everything about your journey changes, our choices, your energy, your mindset.
You don’t need to earn self-love through progress. You are already worthy the way that you are, your physical appearance does not define that for you.
3. You don't have to be perfect to be consistent
I was once under the impression that the only way this journey worked was to be strict with myself until I reached my goal, then I could finally enjoy my life again. WRONG.
This journey is meant to enhance your life, not take it over. I used to think discipline meant saying no to everything fun or “off-plan,” but all that did was make me resent the process. The truth is, losing weight is actually the easy part, it’s keeping it off afterward where the real test begins. And you can’t do that if you’ve spent your entire journey being miserable!
Progress doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from consistency. From showing up even when the day isn’t ideal, from getting back on track after a weekend out, from nourishing with whole foods after a binge, from giving yourself grace instead of guilt.
Every “imperfect” day you keep going is one more step toward the version of you who never gives up.
4. Discipline is a form of self love
I used to think discipline was a form of punishment. I thought it meant turning down pizza with my family and feeling embarrassed while having to say, “I’m on a diet” like I wasn't allowed to enjoy myself. I thought it meant pushing my body to extreme exhaustion in workouts, and that missing a session because I was tired was somehow wrong.
The truth? This isn’t discipline at all, it’s restriction. This journey isn’t supposed to be a punishment, it’s supposed to make your life better.
Real discipline comes from love. It’s showing up for yourself the best you can that day, honoring your body when it needs rest, and making choices that support your goals , even when it’s uncomfortable or feels like failure.
Discipline is prepping meals that nourish you when you don’t feel like it. It’s getting up and moving your body in ways that feel good, even when all you want to do is stay in bed. It’s eating a nourishing, whole-food meal after missing a few workouts and indulging in fast food the last few nights. Discipline is pushing through, even when it’s hard, even when it feels like you’ve failed. When you shift your perspective , discipline stops being punishment and becomes one the greatest acts of self love you can give yourself.
5. Trust the process - be patient
One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that fast results go as quickly as they come. It’s easy to get caught up in your progress once you start seeing change. You might push through a workout when your body really needs rest, or skip a dinner out to stay “good” all in the name of progress.
When I began seeing real change for the first time, I couldn’t believe I was actually making it happen. After 10 years of feeling like I “couldn’t” lose weight, I was finally doing it and I became addicted to what I saw in the mirror. I lost sight of the journey itself.
I found myself skipping good times for a workout, eating my meal prep before a meal out instead of enjoying it, or saying no to a cupcake my nanny family offered because I didn’t want to “slow down my progress.”
In reality, this wasn't discipline, it was toxic and it wasn’t helping me at all, it was setting me up for burnout and disappointment. Once I reached my "goal" I completely lost control and within months, I gained 40 pounds back, just like that. Fall in love with the journey, not what you see in the mirror! True and lasting progress comes when you trust the process, give yourself grace, and remember that change takes time!
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