5 Things People Don't Tell You Will Happen During Your Weight Loss Journey

That’s right, I’m spilling all of the secrets today. There are videos, books, movies, talk shows, podcasts, and millions more - that share every possible way to achieve weight loss, but I haven’t seen any that share what will happen during weight loss.

Rather than giving you a lengthy reason on how I found all of these things out the hard way, I’m just going to cut to the chase. Here are 5 things people don’t (and won’t) tell you will happen during your weight loss journey.

1. Water & All That Comes With It.

The one tip that is given by every single weight-loss professional - drink more water!

Obviously!

Water fills your belly, hydrates your body, gives you clear skin, makes you bloat, and makes you pee! Wait, what? Those last two benefits didn’t seem too amazing. You’re right because they aren’t! When you’re beginning your weight loss journey and copying all the moves your YouTube influencer advises you to do - you’re not going to see all of the bathroom breaks that were cut out of the clip. Enjoy that gallon that you’re carrying around while you can because soon you will despise it. Maybe that was just me. I was convinced when I started my weight loss journey, which included drinking a gallon a day, that I had a small bladder. Spoiler alert, I no longer drink a gallon a day, and you really don’t need to either.

Google it, I’ll wait.

When beginning my gallon chug, I was going to the bathroom every five minutes. That might be fine when you’re sitting at home watching Tik Toks on your phone, but working a 9-hour shift at a mental health clinic and saying "can you help this client? I need to use the bathroom", it becomes an issue.

Okay, it wasn’t that bad, but there was a time or two that I needed to pass a client off so I could rush to the bathroom.

Those weight loss gurus don’t share that tidbit with you, do they? And before you swear off all water completely, as I did after my third day of the gallon water challenge, let me share this. First, your body does adjust. It takes a bit of time depending on the amount you’re drinking compared to the amount you were drinking, but it adjusts. Second, as mentioned above, you do not need to drink a gallon a day. The amount you need depends on factors such as; activity level, weight, height, sex, metabolism, etc. Generally, you should be drinking half an ounce to a full ounce of water for each pound you weigh. This means at my 138 weight, I should be drinking 69 to 138 ounces of water daily, according to WebMD. Keep in mind, I’m not very active nor am I outdoors in the heat all day. Now, there are 128 ounces in a gallon, so for some, you very well should be drinking that much, so - if you do need to drink a gallon or more a day, here is my advice:

1. Don’t worry, your body will adjust… eventually. Maybe start with half a gallon and work your way up. Personally, I’m struggling just to drink my 32-ounce water bottle daily, so there’s no shame in baby steps.

2. You’ll bloat, which may make you believe you’re gaining weight - but you’re not! According to Medical News Today, water can build up in the body - causing bloat and puffiness. This can occur mainly in the arms, legs, and tummy - which is always where I’m staring. Water weight can make the scale fluctuate anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds, typically - so don’t go calling it quits if you’re not seeing results by the end of the week!

3. When it comes to the constant peeing, my number one tip is to stop drinking about two hours before you go to bed. Trust me, this tip is a life and mood saver!

2. Weight Loss Really Takes Her Time.

According to a variety of professionals, including the Mayo Clinic, the safest way to lose weight is aiming to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week. That’s it! That’s negative 500 calories to 1000 calories of your daily intake. I began counting calories for a bit, and I hated it, but it really does show you how much food you’re actually eating in each meal. I strongly suggest everyone count calories for a minimum of three days - it’ll completely change your perspective of food. With all of that being said, 1 to 2 pounds per week is nothing, but look back two months and you could be down 8 to 16 pounds, and that’s a big change! So, trust the process and definitely take progress photos!! You won’t notice your change day by day, but month by month you totally will!

3. Weight Loss is Not Linear.

Whether you’re going to the gym for the first time or beginning a new health kick, this will apply to you. I remember late at night, the weight loss commercials coming on and sharing how everyone lost 90 pounds, 50 pounds, 120 pounds, instantly. No, they didn’t. Weight loss isn’t linear, it’s not fast - it's slow and painful. You may lose six pounds, then gain three right back. Or you could lose five pounds one week, three the next, six the next - but gain four the week after. Don’t let this discourage you! Always remember that your weight is a lot more than fat. It’s a muscle, water, salt intake, fat, and more. You bloat, you gain weight when you eat a heavy meal or drink a glass of water. Weight loss is not a straight line, it’s a weird zig zag with no clear rhyme or reason. Don’t let it discourage you.

4. The Only Secret is A Calorie Deficit.

This is a big one. This secret, many health gurus are still not willing to spill. So listen up, the only secret there is when it comes to weight loss - is that there is no secret. You do not need to take pills, drink detox shakes, or participate in a juice cleanse. You do not need to partake in a keto diet, vegetarian diet, vegan diet, or WeightWatchers. You do not need Slimfast, Hydroxycut, or anything that the Kardashian’s promote. What you do need, is to consume fewer calories than you are burning. Therefore, burning more calories than you’re eating. If you typically eat 3,000 calories a day and find that that amount is a bit much for your age, height, lifestyle, and sex - you safely subtract 500 calories from that diet. If you go from eating 3,000 calories daily to 2,500 calories, you will lose 1-2 pounds a week! That’s 4-8 pounds a month! It may seem small, but that’s a big change when looking back! This is the only secret! The gym isn’t needed, but is a great tool to add to your lifestyle to make you stronger and confident!

5. Losing the Weight Won’t Make You Happy.

This one might piss you off. It might cause you to call me a liar, close out of the screen, and move on with your life - but it’s true. Just because you reach your weight loss goal, it doesn’t mean you will be happy. The most important thing is how you feel about yourself. The weight loss might make you feel confident in your new bikini or loving the newfound attention you may be getting - but when you go home to your dog, do you love yourself? If the answer is no, then while you’re working on this weight loss goal, make sure to work on your other goals too! Start that new business you’ve always dreamed about, start journaling, go out with friends you just made at a party, do all of the things you’ve wanted to do but never thought you could. Stop procrastinating and work on your whole self - not just the self that others see.

I’m sure there are plenty more things that no one is telling us when it comes to our weight loss journey, but these are the few I’ve experienced right away. If you have any to share, comment them down below!