The
10% Solution
You
May Not Need to Lose as Much as You Thought
-- By Mike Kramer, Staff Writer
Are you a weight loss
failure?
Before you answer
that question, let’s talk about what failure means.
A recent study found
that, in the nonsensical weight loss world, most failure
has more to do with failing to meet faulty expectations
than with failing to lose weight. This may not seem
like a big difference, but in reality, it’s HUGE.
In other words, you may be experiencing success, but
still feel like you’re failing. So, we must find a
way to use our expectations to motivate rather than
to berate.
According to the study in the Archives of Internal
Medicine, the average "Dream" weight loss
is 38% of the dieter’s current weight. Also:
So the 200-pound woman
who loses 30 pounds would actually be disappointed
in her results!
No wonder there are
so many frustrated dieters out there. They may be
frustrated even when their programs are working!
The
10% Solution
To bring expectations more in line with reality, many
health professionals are beginning to suggest setting
a 10% weight loss goal instead. Losing just 10% of
your current weight can boost your energy and performance,
lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower
your cholesterol, and build some much-needed momentum.
On top of that, 10% may be a better goal than 15%,
25% or even 38% for many reasons:
10%
is Under Your Control
In all frankness, you can’t do a darned thing about
that 38% weight loss goal you might have—not one thing—until
you first deal with the 10% you have right in front
of you. In other words, you can’t lose 80 pounds in
a short amount of time, but you might be able to lose
15. The key is to focus on the 10% you can do something
about right now and go from there.
10%
is Realistic
Research is showing that a lump 38% dream weight loss
simply doesn’t happen for most people. In reality,
it’s less of a goal and more of a pipe dream. But
research is also showing that 10% can happen for just
about anyone. Does this mean you’re doomed no matter
what you try and you
should give up on the bigger goal? Nope. Simply lose
that first 10%, regroup and reset your goals, and
then pursue another 10% based on your new weight.
The added benefit to this approach is that each 10%
will get smaller and smaller!
10% is More
Effective
Not only are gradual goals healthier in the long run,
but they’re also more powerful in reaching your ultimate
goals. You’ll be much more successful by setting and
reaching a series of 10% goals than riding a wild
weight loss roller coaster in pursuit of a huge goal
all at once. One of the great weight
loss ironies is that you’ll be more likely to lose
that big number by ignoring it for now in favor of
the smaller 10% goal.
Traditionally, weight
loss programs have encouraged impatience and coconut-cream-pie-in-the-sky
expectations. This approach also results in feelings
of failure. Let’s try to turn it around and use the
10% strategy to do it right this time.
