Biggest Loser Update: How to Make Your Weight Loss Last a Lifetime

Ralph Miller, certified massage therapist and colleague at South Riding Wellness Connection, continues with his personal experience as a participant in the Biggest Loser  community challenge, which concluded June 9^th with the top winner having lost 19% of her body weight! Enjoy his thoughts on making your weight loss last a lifetime. ~ Sarah

The weekly Challenge emails have finished and the accountability is in our hands. Now what? How do we keep this lifestyle change going? I use the words “lifestyle change” instead of weight loss for good reason. After witnessing the outpouring of faith, loyalty, friendship, and yes, disappointment by some, the words “lifestyle change” seem more appropriate.

To the participants who progressed beyond their expectations, congratulations! No award can touch the feeling of your achieving your goals. Your new objective might now include encouraging others. And for those who didn’t meet their goals, think of it this way. I’ve lost 23 of the 35 pounds I set as a goal for myself. Except now my goal has only a little to do with weight loss and a lot more to do with incorporating what I’ve learned to make this a healthy way of life.

One lesson is this: Stick with what you like and make it work for you. This goes for all areas of life. Hey, you love your career, but hate your job? Don’t change careers, change the environment you’re currently in. Don’t like my massage? Don’t stop getting them, find someone you like better. Tired of your weight loss program?  Don’t give up, simply find another one that works for you! Don’t change the goal, change the path. Your health, your well-being, and also your family are counting on it.

I have four kids and three grandkids, and on Father’s Day, I welcomed the accolades of being a father. I think how much better my life is now. I have overcome the fear of failure because I’m just not going to. On many more Father’s Days to come, I want to get more mugs I can’t use, more breakfasts made by my kids, and more opportunities to do what I want to do—at least for the day. The only way I can do that is to keep moving forward with my lifestyle change. I have value to the ones who love me, so I’ll remember that my weight loss is not just about me, it’s about being healthy for those around me.

You have value, too. This isn’t the end. Keep encouraging others and stay on top of the changes you’ve made. Do not stop. If in the next few months you need help, ask for it! Create your own lifestyle change. I hope you do have the success you are looking for with the Biggest Loser. I know that for me, change will be the norm this time—and will be permanent.

Good luck and God bless!