Congrats on choosing a weight loss goal. This is exciting! You've taken the plunge, committed to a goal, and started shifting your mindset to the changes you may need to make to reach that goal, which is great!

We want to ensure the excitement you feel now is around after a few weeks or months into your goal. Often, the work necessary for weight loss can overshadow this excitement.

Simply put, weight loss takes work. It may take pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, challenging yourself in difficult moments, or even a change in identity.

Here are 3 tips to help you on this journey.

Will you lose some initial weight? Likely.

Will progress stall at some point? Probably.

Will some further changes need to be made to continue moving forward? You bet.

We see regular posts in our Facebook Community regarding rates of progress - mainly that they aren't fast enough! Think of sustainable weight loss like training for a marathon. You aren't going to jump off the couch and run for 26 miles straight.

Life is a journey. It may take a few more weeks or months to reach your goal, which isn't a bad thing. A positive attitude and embracing the marathon make all the difference. It's better to reach your goal slowly than never to reach it at all.

Yes, you read that right, there are no bad foods.

Are some foods more calorie-dense than others? Absolutely.

Are there foods that fit better based on your macro budget? Absolutely.

Here are a few simple questions to ask yourself when deciding if a food fits.

These questions will help balance your food choices between foods you enjoy and nutrient-rich foods for health. By including food you actually enjoy, it will make the process much easier and you will feel less restricted.

Activity and exercise are within our control daily. Consistent movement can help achieve your calorie deficit in a weight loss phase by allowing you to eat more food. Trying to create a deficit through diet alone can cause some pretty low calories and be less sustainable.