You can also achieve your goal in small steps

Losing twenty kilos in a month—whoever invents a pill for that will never have to work again? Despite what social media would have us believe, losing weight requires patience, a lot of patience. But there is hope. Odin Nijenhuis, franchisee of Happy Bodies in Aalsmeer and Hoofddorp Floriande, explains in this blog how to stay motivated to achieve your goal.

Good health requires work

I see many people around me struggling to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Good health—just like challenging work and a good relationship—requires work. When I spoke with the founders of Happy Bodies about their concept, I was immediately enthusiastic. So, when they decided to expand their success through a franchise, I didn't hesitate. On September 1, 2019, I opened the doors of my first location in Hoofddorp Floriande, and on January 15 of this year—the day gyms were allowed to reopen—the second location in Aalsmeer followed.

Wrong expectations

What I find truly special is that people often come to us with the wrong expectations. They picture the traditional image of a gym: loud music, lots of mirrors, sweaty bodies, heavy weights, and seeing and being seen. Happy Bodies isn't a gym; we're a lifestyle club. We're very accessible, have a homey atmosphere, and in 35 minutes you can train your entire body. And—perhaps most importantly—our coaches are truly dedicated to you. If you have a health challenge to tackle, we're happy to help.

Gaining weight is a gradual process, losing weight should be too

Research by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) shows that approximately half of Dutch people aged 20 and older were overweight in 2020. A staggering 37 percent are moderately overweight, and 14 percent are severely overweight. When people want to do something about this, they often set far too ambitious a goal. This can be detrimental to their motivation. Those ten or twenty kilos of excess weight weren't gained in a month, and you won't lose them in a month either. Gaining weight is almost always a gradual process. Every year, you gain a kilo, and step by step, you become less and less energetic. Until you've reached your limit.

Burn more energy with the right nutrition

Losing weight in a healthy and responsible way is also a gradual process. Crash diets that require starving yourself don't work, or only temporarily. You lose weight quickly, but the weight comes back just as quickly, creating a yo-yo effect. This is not only very frustrating, but also dangerous, as research by Columbia University commissioned by the American Heart Association has shown. It can also backfire. By maintaining your nutrition and making the right choices, you stimulate your body to burn more energy.

You eat an elephant in pieces

How do you eat an elephant? In pieces. That's also the advice we give people who want to lose weight. By setting interim goals, you stay motivated. Start by losing five kilos in six months. Discuss with your coach how you can achieve that, and be patient. If you look at your progress week by week, it might only seem like small steps, but if you look back after six months, you'll have dropped a dress size!