When most people try to lose weight, they watch one number: the scale. But not all weight loss is...
Are You Working Out for the Right Reasons?
By: Scottsdale Weight Loss Center
Published: August 13, 2012
Please Don’t Drink Your Calories if You’re Focused on Weight Loss
Liquid calories are fluids consumed as part of your daily diet that often go unnoticed and...
Rock Climbing: Lose Weight on the Wall
If your weight loss efforts have hit a wall, why not climb it? Rock climbing is becoming an...
Weight Watchers vs. Medical Weight Loss Programs in Scottsdale: Comparing the Results
Many residents in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and Glendale struggle with weight loss plateaus despite...
Arizona Medical Weight Loss Programs vs Online Programs: Which One Provides the Best Results?
The weight loss landscape has shifted significantly with the rise of digital health platforms....
Is Brown Rice Healthier Than White Rice?
Is brown rice better than white rice? Intuitively, one would think that brown rice is much...
Before your next workout, pause for a moment to think about just why you’ve committed yourself to improving your physical fitness. Yes, you need to exercise regularly to meet the guidelines of your medical weight loss program in Phoenix and Scottsdale, but are you using exercise exclusively to accomplish that goal? “Diet and exercise” are so frequently uttered in the same breath that it can become difficult to separate the two—and this can make exercise seem like a necessary, but tedious evil.
We often get so caught up in the number on the scale that nothing else seems important, but your weight is just a number. The real progress you make with medical weight loss comes with learning to live better, to adjust your behavior in ways that help you move forward in a positive way while also, consequently, helping you lose weight.
Many of us pursue medical weight loss to feel better about ourselves, to improve body image issues that may be holding back our self-esteem. If you see exercise as a necessary evil, you may stay dedicated enough to slim down, but focusing on how exercise helps you improve your lifestyle is the true path to satisfaction and happiness with your body.
The goal isn’t to lose weight. Your path to weight loss is the goal.
Don’t look at that intimidating final goal weight as your ultimate objective—the steps you take to live better are what really matter. The eyes of others at your gym may be intimidating, but remember that what they think doesn’t matter—your goal is to get healthier for you, and you shouldn’t let anyone take that away from you.
Exercising for the right reasons can be one of the fastest ways to improve your body image, but only if you allow it to be a guide and teacher in your journey instead of a dreaded chore. Here’s how to develop a positive attitude towards your workout.
- Work out for your body’s benefit. Any reason to get active is a good reason, so don’t get too hung up on the source of your motivation if it gets you out the door. That being said, exercising because you want to take good care of your body will help you affirm the fact that you and your body are friends. You aren’t working against your body as you exercise; you’re working with it to achieve a common goal. Listen to what your body is telling you and you’ll find the experience much more pleasurable.
- Challenge yourself. You can become more engaged in your exercise routine by setting performance goals. As you reach and surpass each of your personal bests the improvements you observe can do wonders for your self-esteem and commitment. Try holding little competitions with yourself and attempt to beat your records a few times each month, then reward yourself when you succeed. To keep track of your efforts, it may be a good idea to record everything in a journal. You can even pay attention to how exercise impacts your mood and take note of how each activity and intensity level influences your state of mind.
- Have some fun. Picture an elementary school playground at recess, with kids running, jumping, screaming, laughing, hopping, skipping—you couldn’t stop them from being active if you tried. You were once like them, but who says you have to change? We may become more mature as we get older, but each of us still carries that desire to let loose and play. Instead of suffering through another boring treadmill session, get a workout with games, sports and activities that you’d want to do even if they didn’t burn calories. Get creative and mix things up a bit with Frisbee, golf or roller skating—anything you can get excited about.
Research shows that those who exercise regularly have a higher self-esteem and feel better about their bodies, but exercising for the right reasons can be even more beneficial to your body image and motivation. If you think of exercise as a tiresome chore, rethink your approach and get back out there—it’s never too late for a positive change.
Nick
Nick's Story
"I wish I would have come here first. We spend all our time reacting to the next great weight loss tip or program. It might work for a while, but does not last and we end up yo-yoing from one fad to the next – as we gain more weight." Read More
Gina
Lost 44.5 lbs
"I had no trouble adhering to the meals and they really helped catapult my progress! The classes were so beneficial to me because they helped change my thinking about how I viewed health, nutrition, and fitness.
I will always have my relationship with Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. They truly helped me change my life forever." Read More
Lauren
Lost 60 lbs
"Dr. Ziltzer and everyone who I have come in contact with at the Scottsdale Weight Loss office have been so encouraging and I look forward to seeing them each week. It is now a year and 2 months later since I started. I am down 60 lbs., which is the average amount a 9-year-old weighs, it is crazy to think I lost a whole person! I feel amazing, I hit my goal weight in November 2021 just before Thanksgiving. Nothing on my body hurts anymore..." Read More
Chuck
Lost 66 lbs
"The best thing I did was call the Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. I have a lot more energy, I'm not hungry, and it feels great.
You can take it from me that this is a program that produces results. The staff is always positive, supportive, and never judgmental.
Your visits always result in positive reinforcement, no matter if you had a good week or a bad week." Read More
Emily
Lost 101 lbs
"Here I am at the lowest I have been since high school weighing in at 155lbs. I have lost 101 lbs, BMI of 39 when I started, to 21.6, and of course at body fat % of 47.1 to 26.5%. I told myself by my 30th birthday I wanted to be confident in the way I look and I owe it all to SWLC. The entire staff is so welcoming and they are rooting for you just as much as you are rooting for yourself...." Read More
Reviews
Meet Our Team
Robert Ziltzer, MD, FACP, FAAP, FOMA
Obesity Medicine Certified Physician
Diana Bone, FNP-C
Specializing in Obesity Medicine
Craig Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, MFOMA
Obesity Medicine Certified Physician
Kristen Ash, FNP-C, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Alicia Earley, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
