As a weight loss doctor (Obesity Specialist Physician), many of my patients are going through their weight loss journey at the same time. They start to know each other and they see how fast each lose weight. This CAN be good, but I think if anything it is mostly bad.
No matter what anyone tells you, we are all in some ways – special. We are all different shapes and sizes. We think differently. Go on Facebook for 5 minutes and see people disagree over the most ridiculous things (e.g. interpretations of memes for God’s sake). The point is we are all different and this includes the rate at which we lose weight AND what our bodies look like after weight loss.
My patient Susan comes in and says “Dr. Spencer, Mary lost 60 pounds in the past 6 months and I have only lost 40 pounds and I am doing EVERYTHING right. It’s not fair!” No it’s not fair.
I get it. When I was younger, I wanted to look like my brother. He had the big pecs and biceps and ripped abs the women would fawn over. So what did I do? I worked my ASS off to gain as much muscle as possible. Do I look like him? No. But this isn’t bad, I look like a much improved version of ME.
It is easy to get caught up and be envious of other’s successes and this includes weight loss.
A few things to note:
- You won’t have the same weight loss journey as someone else.
- If someone else’s body helps motivate you to work harder then fine.
- BUT, you will never have someone else’s body. You will have your own. This is good!
- Become the best YOU.
- Accept yourself, but still continue to reach higher if you can and you’re not miserable doing it.
- Understand that others will have faster (and slower) weight loss than you.
Here is the Facebook live where I discussed it
