Discover the Experience: Inside a Post-Weight Loss Boot Camp
Fitness experts and weight loss coaches often emphasize that joining a fitness or weight loss camp is just the start, not the end goal. Many people expect quick fixes, but doctors and coaches will tell you that losing weight and getting fit is an ongoing journey. These camps should be seen as the starting point of a new lifestyle that incorporates regular exercise and views food as fuel, not filler.
This journey marks the beginning of a lifelong commitment to enhancing your strengths and physical abilities rather than just fixating on appearances. One of the most significant changes you need to make when joining a weight loss boot camp is shifting your mindset and attitude. Many people find that without these changes, they quickly regain the weight they lost.
Experienced participants suggest that after camp, you should maintain or even increase your activity level. This can include household chores and work tasks that keep you moving. At work, volunteer for fieldwork, take on projects that involve meeting people and visiting new places.
Changing your social interactions is also crucial to achieving your weight loss goals. After camp, you might find that friends and family encourage you to return to old unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, and eating junk food. It’s important for your friends and family to support your new lifestyle. They might even find themselves living healthier lives as a result. Engage in activities that involve sports and exercise rather than food. Educate each other, especially children, about different food types, focusing on raw and natural ingredients.
Psychologists point out that people who complete fitness camps often form new friendships and let some old ones fade. This isn’t surprising as adopting new habits and encouraging others to do the same isn’t always easy or quick.
While tackling emotional challenges is a big part of fitness camps, you might still struggle with feelings of shyness, fear, laziness, sadness, or anger after camp. Remember, these camps are just the beginning of a continuous journey. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t instantly become the life of the party, even if you look and feel better physically.
A young photographer who has documented her weight loss journey notes that happiness after weight loss depends on forgiving yourself for failures and not worrying about how others perceive your progress.
