There are spring days when I’ll look outside the window at my cabin, and it’ll be raining.

A few hours later, I’ll look outside again and see that eight inches of snow have fallen.

It’s typical Idaho weather. Some days you get all four seasons in one day!

Another thing that’s typical is wanting to give up when you’re doing the work and not seeing the results.

You’re drinking your water, getting sleep, eating the foods, and saying no social occasions where you’ll be tempted.

You expect the scale to reward you every time you make the right choice.

Instead, sometimes it stays the same, or even ticks up…which is discouraging and may send you into a binge-fest or downward spiral.

Listen, I get how frustrating it is when you do the right thing and don’t get the reward you think you should.

But please hear me when I say this: Doing the right thing even when you aren’t rewarded when or how you expect – or when no one else will ever know – is a hallmark of mental toughness.

If you only do the right thing when you get a pat on the head, or when things go “perfectly,” you’re throwing up roadblocks between you and results you say you want (like getting your weight off).

It’s not the easiest thing to do. I get that.

But when you’re mentally tough, you’ll do it anyway…because you know that the result can only come if you keep doing your part, even when things get rocky.

Here are three tips to help you keep going when you’re doing everything right and nothing is happening:

1. Double check that you really ARE doing everything right. I can’t even tell you how many times someone has been “sure” they’re doing everything right, only to discover that they missed or are ignoring a key piece of the puzzle. Revisit the basics with an open mind and the assumption you really are missing something.
2. Notice your non-scale victories. The scale is an important tool to track progress, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. It won’t tell you if your blood sugars are stabilizing, or if your migraines are backing off, or if you have less foot pain. Jot down and celebrate your non-scale victories.
3. Get support from other people. Losing weight all on your own is tough. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but most people do SO much better with support and accountability. Get connected to people who are going to encourage you but also call you out on your crap. Don’t make food pushers your support. Choose people who aren’t going to enable your old ways. (See the link to the Code Red network at the bottom of this post for help finding support.)

Bottom line: Success is not linear. It twists, turns, and backtracks. 

But as long as your overall momentum is toward the goal you want, you’ll get there eventually…IF you stick with it.

Keep going so YOU can be one of the people who goes all the way.