When you first start losing weight, you have certain expectations.

However, a reality check kicks in to let you know things are not always as we plan them.

So, instead of going with the flow and learning it the hard way (and the long way), I decided to share my experience with you, with the things I wish I knew before I started my weight loss journey.

No one told me about these 10 things when I first started losing weight, and they would’ve saved me so much time and trouble.

So, instead of going ‘yolo’ style, take a moment to go through all of them, and get prepped for your big changes ahead.

Let’s get started right away!

1. It’s A Long Process And It Will Probably Take Some Time

I know when I first started my weight loss journey, I thought I was just a few weeks from getting my dream body.

And then reality hit me.

I’m more than 7 years in fitness now, and I’m realizing how long actually weight loss is taking.

Especially since it’s not a linear journey, it’s different for everybody and it never happens exactly how you think.

And this timing misconception about losing weight is mainly because of the misleading info all around the internet and the programs that promise you to lose 70 pounds in 4 weeks.

It’s true that it usually takes around 4-6 weeks for your body to get into that changing zone, and you start seeing the very first results.

However, from the point you first start seeing results, to the point when you get to the final results you want, there’s a huge time frame that usually can’t be measured in weeks.

There’s a long time ahead of you to reach your goals – probably months.

However, don’t be discouraged because of this, and don’t worry about the time because the time will pass anyway.

Just be patient and don’t worry about the time matter.

Remember: anything worth getting does not come easy.

2. Your Body Won’t Look Like What You Imagined

Especially if you imagined it as the body of your favorite fitspo.

In my video on YouTube I explain all about it, so go ahead and check it out:

 

This is obviously completely dependent on the individual, the amount of weight loss, and places they store fat.

I, for example, had a huge problem with my cellulite, stretch marks, and my muffin top.
I wanted them all gone.

7 years passed and I still have stretch marks, I still have cellulite on my legs (it’s less visible but it’s still there) and my stomach bloats whenever I eat or drink water, which makes me look like I haven’t lost any weight in my core.

Apparently, stretch marks are caused by a sudden gain or loss in weight, depending on the skin’s ability to stretch.

Also, even when we are at our thinnest, we still can have a bit of cellulite, and that’s perfectly normal.

I know this sounds scary but hear me out…

We all usually compare ourselves with strangers on the internet.
We don’t know them, we haven’t seen their flaws on IG, only the good things and we don’t get the full picture.

And here’s a full picture for you:

“The left picture is me breathing in and tending like imma bout to 💩 myself, but hey, works for a quick photo! Although right is me irl 🙃“

We are all humans at the end of the day, and when we are standing in front of a mirror posing and flexing, we can make us look amazing.

However, when we are chilling on the couch, watching Netflix, and snacking all day, of course, we won’t look “perfect”.

We weren’t made to be perfect and that’s okay.

Just don’t let it discourage you. The goal is to be better and do better than yesterday.

Not perfect, but better.

3. Not everyone will understand and support you

When you are on a journey like this, it’s natural to expect that your closest people will be by your side, cheering up for you, and being enormously proud of you.

However, in reality, things are a bit different.

Not everyone will be happy for you, and people will be sort of supportive until it affects them in any way.

In fact, there are certain people who will take your new lifestyle and make it all about them.  

For example, when I first started eating healthy, family gatherings and holidays were a real nightmare for me.

Usually, there was no food for me to eat, and lots of temptations all around me. 
And on top of that a host that gets offended by me not willing to ‘at least try it’.

Well, no. For starters, I was around temptations all the time and I really didn’t appreciate having added ones from my closest people.

They just couldn’t realize why I didn’t want to make an exception when they tried so hard cooking, without even realizing how hard it must have been for me to resist and say ‘no’ in the first place.

Especially since for me one night of cheat meal used to turn into days of binge eating before I manage to get back on track.

Dieting can be hard, but trying to explain to people why you are doing what you’re doing can be even harder, so just get ready for it and try to not take it too personally.

4. You Can Do Everything Right And Still Not See Results

Weight loss can be a real b*tch sometimes.

It’s often determined by so many factors and influenced by so many tiny little things beyond our control.

And it can get so frustrating at times, that it feels like no matter what you do, you’ll still don’t get the results you deserve. 

Even when you’re doing everything you’re supposed to be doing, sometimes your body won’t cooperate, and that’s okay.

Just be persistent, keep going, and give it some time, and eventually, the results will start coming up.

Check out: ‘Why Am I Not Losing Weight No Matter What I Do? – ANSWERED!’ 

5. You Don’t Need To Spend Hours Working Out

This was the biggest breakthrough in my fitness and weight loss journey:

Coming to understand that it’s not about how long you are working out, but how hard.

I used to spend hours at the gym, going through each and every one of the machines, then doing a 40 minutes session on a cardio machine to finish it all with a sweat.

However, slow and steady cardio takes at least 30 minutes to even tap into the fat-burning zone, and even when you do, it’s not so effective if you’re doing it for a short period of time.

Not to mention the fact that it sends your body into conversation mode, making you hold on to those fat cells as if your life depended on it.

High-intensity interval workouts, on the other hand, will take only 20-30 minutes of your day, providing you with amazing results in a shorter amount of time.

Plus, the intervals work amazingly in spiking your heart rate up in seconds, keeping you in the fat-burning zone even hours after finishing the workout.

One of the things I love about HIIT is that it’s not boring at all, the exercises and intervals are keeping it exciting and new all the time.

Also, I feel like I’ve been skipping my workouts more often when I know it takes 1-2 hours to finish my workout.

With HIIT, the training sessions last 20-30 minutes, and there’s no room for excuses in terms of finding the time to complete it.

Since I’ve learned and gained so much just from changing my workout style, I decided to do my own workout program and help all of you do the same thing.

You can check out my new workout program RADIATE here for more.



6. There’s So Much Fake Info About Weight Loss

So many girls come to me and say they’ve tried everything and they can’t seem to lose weight.

That’s because of the misleading info the internet provides nowadays.

From detox teas, pills, and magic solutions to diets that promise you amazing results with selective nutrients.

There are so many scams and so many unhealthy diet plans that may help you lose weight by not eating enough but will cause you to gain it all back with interest.

That’s why it’s so important to always double and triple-check your sources and never ever believe something without checking if it’s really true.

There are no magic pills, no magic solutions, fast fix-ups, and shortcuts – I’ve tried them all – they don’t work.

And my rule of thumb is: if it sounds like it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

Check out: Spot & Avoid The Worst Weight Loss Trends

Check out my video:

7. Some Clothes Will Still Not Look Good On You

While it may seem that once you finally lose weight you will get to wear whatever you want and what you weren’t able to wear before, this is only partially true.

You see, there are many different body types, however, most of the clothing is designed for those with only one body type.

In the end, it doesn’t matter how much weight you lose, some clothing will still not look the best on you.

Just know that we’re all made different, and not every piece of clothing looks good on everyone.

8. If You Train a Body Part, You Won’t Lose Fat On That Body Part

This is called spot reduction and unfortunately, it isn’t possible.

You can do hundreds of crunches each training session, and the only thing you would get is stronger abs.

When it comes to weight loss, it’s all or non.

This means that you can only lose overall body fat by working on your body as a whole piece and eating healthy.

Focus on working on a better body overall, and you’ll get amazing results.

Check out my latest workout video: 

9. You Will Feel Tired

I know I did.

This is mainly because you are doing changes to both your diet and your fitness activity.

I felt great for most of the day, but then right after I finished my workout I was so tired.

Especially in the beginning, I was just thinking about getting some rest, lying down, and doing nothing.

Of course, this changes as your body adapts to your new lifestyle.

It’s perfectly normal to feel unusually tired to start with, and that’s fine.

Take the rest you need – you deserve it for trying so hard.

10. It’s All About Changing Your Mindset

Oh, ABSOLUTELY!

The moment when ‘I can’t have that’ changed to ‘I don’t want that’ was a real game-changer for me.

Of course, setting up a meal plan that works for you and burning out tons of calories in the gym is really important.

But it’s all ‘pointless’ if your mind doesn’t change.

You will lose weight and get healthy, but the moment you stop doing it for the summer body, and start doing it because it’s the thing you want to do – you are hooked!

The thing about weight loss is once you lose weight, you’re going to have to watch what you eat for the rest of your life if you want to maintain it.

So what you have to aim for is not only changing your body but changing your mindset too, to think and act healthy.

Once you decide you’re doing this for yourself, you’ll never lack motivation, inspiration, and self-control again.

Now Let’s Lose That Damn Weight!

I hope I helped you learn a thing or two about weight loss and what it really takes to get to your body goals.

If you want to learn more about how I managed to get fit, head on to my article ‘How To Lose Weight Fast And Easy – The 4 Things That Helped Me Get Fit’.

Also, if you like my article, don’t forget to share it with your friends!

Till next time!
xoxo