Sometimes we can be our own worst critics. If you find yourself criticizing your progress toward your health goals, remember that tearing yourself down is more likely to lead to setbacks. As you follow our medical weight loss plan, encouragement is what you really need.  Use these five strategies to exercise kindness toward yourself.

Focus on today. It’s difficult to feel hopeful when you’re looking forward at months of hard work, or setting a goal to lose 40, 50, or 100 pounds. Instead, focus on your health today. What are some things you can do for your health today? These little changes add up over time.

Identify accomplishments (that have nothing to do with numbers). Forget about the number on the scale, just for today. Instead, identify some other positive changes that you’ve noticed. Maybe your clothes are fitting differently, you feel more energetic, or you’re enjoying exercise more. These are positive steps in the right direction!

Shake up your routine. Maybe you’re feeling frustrated because you’ve hit a weight loss plateau. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong! Sometimes we hit plateaus for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with how hard you’re working. Instead, look for exciting new, healthy recipes that you could try. Or, venture out of your comfort zone and attempt a new form of exercise.

Remind yourself that everything is temporary. If you’ve experienced a setback, it’s temporary. One bad day is just one bad day; it’s not a bad week, month, or year! And you still have the power to make healthy choices in the future.

Set attainable goals. Sure, the goal of a medical weight loss program is to lose weight. But unwanted pounds take time to disappear. Schedule an appointment with us, and we’ll talk about the rate of weight loss you can expect to see over time. Together we’ll create a plan for success and help you reframe your expectations in a positive light.