Hey there. When most people think about weight loss, they picture maintenance as some far-off dream. It’s this idea that once they hit their goal, everything will get easier and less structured. But the truth is, maintenance should not look that different from what you're doing now. You might be able to scale back a workout or swap out a meal, but the day-to-day should stay pretty similar.
That’s why I always ask this question… could you and would you want to do what you’re doing right now for the rest of your life? If the answer is no, it’s time to rethink your approach. Because even if a plan helps you lose weight, if it’s not something you enjoy or can live with long term, it’s not sustainable. It’s not built for the life you want.
I talk often about building a foundation around your preferences. This is where it starts. If you’ve been trying to lose weight for years or even decades, chances are you’ve followed a lot of rigid programs. Maybe you lost weight for a little while. Maybe you even kept it off for months or a year. But then life happened. You slid back into old habits.
But here’s the thing. When you build your process around your preferences first, you don’t fall back as hard. You don’t have to start from scratch every time. You’re not resetting. You’re returning to a foundation that already fits your life.
That foundation is built by asking if your workouts and food choices are enjoyable and manageable. Not just for now, but for the long haul. Forget the quick timelines. Forget the idea that there's a finish line. The real goal is to build something you can live with and feel good about.
When you start from that place, you can experiment and layer on other things without losing yourself. If something works, great. If it doesn’t, you go back to what already supports you. This is the inside/out way of doing things. It’s a mindset, a process, and a choice.
So ask yourself the question. Would I want to do this version of eating and movement for the rest of my life? If not, make some adjustments. If yes, keep building.
Ready to work on your foundation? Join one of the YLF programs and start building a plan that fits you for life.