What I Wish I’d Known About Weight Loss

Practical Advice Over Tricks and Tips

Sam Cook
6 min readSep 8, 2021
A curled tape measure.
Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

At one time, I was seventy pounds heavier than I am now. That number doesn’t seem like it can be right, but it is. Along the way I’ve tried several approaches, bounced back up thirty pounds or so, and undergone multiple big life changes that impacted my ability to manage my weight. And now that I’ve done all of that, I’m frustrated to see weight loss information that either peddles hacks and secrets, or is based on science but fails to take into account the constraints and challenges that real people face.

I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t think there’s one set of guidelines that will work for everyone. People are different. Their lifestyles, income, available time, and health goals are different. And that’s why my advice is not based in tricks and tips. Instead, it’s some grounded perspective from someone who has been through the full weight loss journey. This is the advice I would go back and give to myself when I was starting out.

Don’t beat yourself up over this

Making a major change to your daily habits is hard. Most people can’t make an immediate, lasting change to their diet, daily routine, and lifestyle. You will almost certainly slip from time to time. You’ll overeat, or indulge on sweets after a hard…

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Sam Cook
Sam Cook

Written by Sam Cook

Former writer for Tested.com and Geek.com, currently a technology professional, teacher, and father. I write about whatever is on my mind.