Watch the full video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvxMgoqoVNo
Summary
Why Weight Loss Goals Don’t Work (and What to Focus on Instead)
When it comes to fitness, weight loss is often seen as the ultimate goal. But here’s the thing: weight loss goals rarely work long-term, and they often set you up for frustration and disappointment.
As the owner of SHINE FIT, a body-positive, anti-diet fitness studio, I’ve spent over a decade coaching women to transform their relationship with fitness. My mission is simple: I want you to work out to change the way you feel—not the way you look.
Here’s why weight loss goals don’t work for most people, and what you should focus on instead.
Weight Loss Goals Are Too Farsighted
Let’s be honest: weight loss is a long-term process. It takes months or even years of consistent effort to see significant changes. While this is achievable, focusing only on weight loss can kill your motivation in the early days of building new habits.
When you start exercising or eating more nutritiously, your body will thank you almost immediately with benefits like:
More energy
Better sleep
Improved mood
Less anxiety and stress
These wins are real, but they’re easy to overlook when you’re focused solely on the scale. Stepping on the scale daily and not seeing immediate changes can crush your momentum, even though your body is already changing for the better in ways you can’t see.
Focus on this instead: Set short-term goals tied to how you feel—more energy, better sleep, or less stress. These are tangible and rewarding, keeping you motivated in the moment.
The Scale Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
Here’s a fact many people don’t realize: your weight can fluctuate naturally due to hormones, water retention, and other factors—especially for women, whose hormones follow a 28-day cycle. Even if you’re doing everything “right,” your weight can vary day-to-day or week-to-week, making the scale an unreliable way to measure progress.
What’s more, weight loss isn’t always the same as fat loss. When you exercise, your body builds lean muscle, which weighs more than fat. This means you might be losing inches, gaining strength, and feeling amazing, but the scale doesn’t reflect those changes.
Focus on this instead: Shift your attention to how your body feels and functions. Are you stronger? Do your clothes fit better? Are you moving through your day with more ease and confidence? These are signs of true progress.
Weight Loss Goals Are Often Misaligned with What You Truly Want
When I sit down with women and ask why they want to lose weight, the answers are rarely about the number itself. It’s about what they think that number represents:
Confidence
Energy to keep up with their kids
Comfort in their clothes
The ability to enjoy life without physical limitations
The truth is, these desires have little to do with a specific number on the scale. Focusing solely on weight loss can distract from these deeper, more meaningful goals.
Focus on this instead: Reframe your goals around what you want to gain—more strength, confidence, or energy. Fitness is about adding value to your life, not taking away from it.
Weight Loss Goals Can Be Emotionally Harmful
Too often, people tie their self-worth to the number on the scale. When that number doesn’t budge—or worse, fluctuates—it can lead to feelings of failure, frustration, and self-doubt.
Your worth as a person has nothing to do with your weight. You are more than a number, a clothing size, or an arbitrary goal.
Focus on this instead: Practice self-love and body positivity at every stage of your journey. You can’t bully yourself into feeling good—you have to nurture that relationship with care and kindness.
What to Do Instead of Setting Weight Loss Goals
If you’re ready to break free from the weight loss mindset, here’s how to start:
Set goals that focus on how you feel. For example:
"I want more energy to get through the day."
"I want to feel stronger and more capable."
"I want to reduce my stress levels."
Celebrate small wins. Each time you sleep better, feel less stressed, or move with more ease, that’s progress worth celebrating.
Think long-term. Fitness is a lifelong journey. The habits you build now will benefit you for years to come.
Ready to Change Your Approach to Fitness?
At SHINE FIT, we help women redefine their relationship with fitness. Our focus is on creating a community where you can move your body, feel amazing, and build habits that last a lifetime.
If you’re tired of chasing weight loss goals that don’t work and want help setting goals that actually empower you, we’d love to chat. Book a complimentary goal-setting session today, and let’s figure out what fitness can do for you.
Your fitness journey isn’t about becoming smaller—it’s about becoming stronger, more confident, and more connected to your body. Let’s focus on what really matters. Watch the full YouTube video for more tips!
💛Ready to start your transformation? Click here to book your free intro session today!
Amazing article Jess! All so true!!