It's bandied about that 95% of all diets fail. So why have I been able to lose and keep off the weight when most are not able to? I learned the hard way.

I once lost 40 lbs in three months. That did include a weight cut right at the end which was water weight, but overall it was a lot to lose in that short of time. I have shared this before and I will share it again. Once the diet was over I gained 50 lbs back.

This happened for a number of reasons. First, That diet was SO HARD! I was wiped out when I was done. Second, I worked with a nutrition coach and I learned nothing. That's not the coach's fault either. I just followed aimlessly. Third, it wasn't a sustainable lifestyle.

Where I see most people failing, is the same place I did. Let's take the weight off and let's do it FAST! More times than not, that approach does not work.

Of course, we all see those bodybuilders, fitness competitors, and freaky powerlifters make these awesome cuts. News flash, most of us are not them. First, they may have a decent amount of weight to lose, but they are never really that out of shape. Also, these are extremely regimented people. It's part of their lifestyle.

Yep, that whole lifestyle thing we have all heard about with dieting is true, but I'm not going to beat you over the head with it. It's something you have to learn on your own. That is if you want to be successful.

The hard truth about fat loss is that it is "GLACIAL." It can take what seems like forever. I am just about reaching my 11th year since starting on this journey. I'm now down over 120 lbs. That averages just under 11 lbs a year.

Now some years, weeks, or months I have lost more than others, but it's never been fast. Plus there are diet breaks in between. I'll be damned if I can remember them. It truly feels like I have been on an 11 year diet now, but the results have been worth it.

Here you will see my weigh in calendar. Jess's weight is on there and as you'll even see, we weigh our rottie. He's getting a little chunky himself, but we tell him it's all muscle. Anyway, I have been on a nine week cut I am down just a little more than four lbs.

vdcalendar

I feel like most people would find that rate of loss unacceptable. However, with all the years I have been dieting, I find that to be above average for me. I'll equate it to hitting my first 600 raw bench. Three years prior my best was 585. It took me three long years to gain 15 lbs on my bench. Again, I think most people would be too impatient for that. But that was the best damn 15 lbs I ever gained on my bench. Just like these last whatever lbs are the best I have made with my fat loss.

It's important for me to share that I have really focused on fat loss and not just weight loss. Muscle is too damn hard to gain to just sacrifice it away while dieting. Another hard truth is, the further along you get, the slower and more difficult the process becomes.

The takeaway from this is, don't expect your fat loss to come quickly or easily. It's a sh!t sandwich and one without many condiments and maybe not even bread. So on low days it might even be a sh!t lettuce wrap. Get used to the taste because if you have a lot of weight to lose, you'll be eating them for a while. Again, and I can't say this strongly enough, THE RESULTS ARE WORTH IT!

swf-apparel home