7 Myths About Weight Loss That Need to Go

In This Post

• Common harmful beliefs about weight that keep people stuck

• Why willpower and calorie counting don’t tell the full story

• How trauma, biology, and upbringing shape our bodies and behaviors

• The complexity behind weight beyond genetics and diet plan

• Why body positivity and weight loss can coexist

• The pitfalls of seeing weight loss as a short-term project

• A fresh perspective on weight management as a lifelong process

  
  

There are countless beliefs surrounding weight, but most of them are rooted in one thing: ignorance.

This post isn’t here to justify obesity. And it’s not here to shame anyone, either.

Its purpose is simple: To bring awareness to perspectives that often go unspoken.

Perspectives shaped by lived experience, not just theory.

I’ve spent most of my adult life overweight.

I’ve lost and regained dozens of kilos.

I’ve lived in a body that has been both my armor and my battlefield.

So I don’t speak from the outside looking in.

I speak from the inside, because I know how it feels.

And because I believe that understanding is the first step toward true freedom.

1. “Obesity is a lack of willpower” - The Biggest Lie

One of the most damaging myths is this:

Weight is never just about laziness or weak character.

This belief ignores:

• Hormonal regulation

• Deep psychological wounds

• Brain neurobiology

• Social structures and roles

• Traumas stored in the body

At worst, it shatters your self-worth.

When you’ve survived things that would’ve crushed others, and still look in the mirror thinking: “Who am I trying to fool?”

“If I were truly strong, I wouldn’t look like this.”

That moment breaks you.

Right when you deserve compassion, you hand yourself silent judgment, because that’s what you were taught to do.

Ironically, this toxic belief drives you toward comfort eating.

Not because you’re weak, but because your body and mind are trying to protect you from the pain this lie causes.

What if obesity isn’t weakness, but a sign you’ve used all your willpower just to survive?

What if your real strength lies in the fact that you’re still here, reading this?

📝 Write down one moment in your life when you showed immense strength — even if no one else saw it. Reread it. Let yourself feel it.

2. “Calories In, Calories Out” - A Half-Truth

This mantra dominates the conversation, but it misses the point. Calories aren’t created equal, and bodies don’t process them uniformly.

This outdated model treats food as fuel only, ignoring its powerful hormonal and neurological effects.

Here’s what it overlooks:

• Insulin resistance: It’s about how your body handles energy, not just how much you consume.

• Hormones: Thyroid, cortisol, and sex hormones shape fat storage and metabolism.

• Satiety: Not all calories satisfy hunger equally.

• Stress & sleep: Both dramatically influence metabolism and fat storage.

• Gut microbiome: Your bacteria influence digestion and appetite signals.

• Trauma: The body holds stories that affect how it responds to food and stress.

  
  

These aren’t excuses, they’re biological facts science is just beginning to unravel.

If “calories in, calories out” were that simple, millions wouldn’t struggle daily.

📝 For one day, don’t track or measure your food. Instead, track your satisfaction after each meal, emotionally, physically, energetically. What do you notice?

3. “Weight Is Genetic - or Fixed”

You’ve probably heard: “It’s in your genes,” or “My metabolism is broken, so I’ll never lose weight.”

That story can feel like a relief, a way to say, “It’s not my fault. It can also feel like a dead end: “Nothing I do matters.”

Here’s the catch: genes are only part of the picture. Our early experiences and family patterns often play an even bigger role.

Think about it:

• How many of us grew up with food tied to emotions?

• Candy as a reward or comfort?

• Celebrations centered around fast food or sweets?

These learned patterns create deep brain associations: emotion + food = comfort or celebration.

The habits, emotional coping strategies, and family rituals we inherited shape how we eat and how we feel about food.

Weight isn’t just biology, it’s culture, conditioning, and learned patterns.

So, while genetics matter, the story behind your weight is far richer, and more changeable, than just DNA.

📝 Reflect: What food habits were modeled in your childhood? Which ones are still running your life today and which ones no longer serve you?

4. “Body Positivity Means You Can’t Talk About Weight Loss”

Body positivity started as a movement to honor bodies that society often erased, those that didn’t fit the narrow ideal.

But somewhere along the way, a new message took hold:

If you want to lose weight, you can’t truly love your body.

That’s a false choice.

What if body positivity isn’t about either/or, but both/and?

• You can deeply respect and appreciate your body and want it to feel different.

• You can accept where you are today and strive for change without shame.

• You can fight for dignity for all bodies and acknowledge your own pain and discomfort.

Body positivity isn’t about denying struggle, it’s about removing cruelty and judgment while giving yourself permission to seek what feels better.

Excess weight isn’t who you are. It’s often a response, a survival tool your body used to protect you.

True acceptance means holding space for both love and growth.

📝 Write two truths that exist in you right now. For example: “I love my body.” And: “I’m tired of how it feels.” Let both be valid.

5. “Losing Weight Automatically Brings Happiness”

This is one of the most dangerous myths out there:

It’s tempting because it promises a shortcut to fulfillment. But it’s a trap.

When happiness depends on a number on the scale, you’re setting yourself up for a conditional existence, worthiness tied to external validation.

I’ve been there, isolating myself, hiding from the world, believing that if only my body changed, I’d be enough.

The truth is, losing weight can open a new kind of challenge. Old feelings you tried to suppress don’t disappear; they often get louder when the distraction of weight is gone.

You might find yourself facing an identity crisis:

• The reflection in the mirror feels unfamiliar.

• The attention you avoided becomes overwhelming.

• The “new you” doesn’t feel like you.

For those with trauma or dissociation, this is especially real, because the body was part of the survival system.

Lightness on the outside doesn’t always mean freedom inside.

True happiness starts when you stop running from yourself and start embracing who you are, at every size.

It begins when you stop needing to earn your right to exist.

📝Finish this sentence without censoring yourself: “When I imagine myself at my ideal weight, I think I will finally feel…” Then ask: Can I begin feeling even 1% of that now?

6. “One-Size-Fits-All”

The wellness industry loves simple formulas: “Do this plan, eat these foods, move like this."

But the human body isn’t a cookie-cutter project. Healing and weight management don’t come from copying someone else’s path.

Your body carries a unique history, from your genetics to your experiences, stress levels, and nervous system state.

Factors like neurodivergence, trauma, or nutrient absorption issues create invisible layers that shape how your body responds to change. What motivates one person might overwhelm another.

Ignoring these layers isn’t just ineffective, it can deepen frustration and self-blame.

Instead of chasing someone else’s blueprint, focus on discovering what your body truly needs.

Build a partnership with yourself, that’s where real, lasting change begins.

📝 What has never worked for you, even though “it works for everyone else”? Validate that. You’re not broken. You’re just different.

7. “Weight Loss Is a Project”

Treating weight loss like a project, something with a start and finish line, sets you up for failure.

Once the “goal” is reached, old patterns rush back, and the weight often returns. This cycle fuels yo-yo dieting, all-or-nothing thinking, and harsh self-judgment.

But what if weight isn’t about willpower or quick fixes?

What if it’s your body’s way of protecting you while you figure out what it truly needs?

True transformation isn’t a deadline; it’s a lifelong process of learning, self-compassion, and small steps.

Stop fighting your body, start walking with it.

📝 Write one commitment to your body that has nothing to do with changing it. Just one small way to honor it this week.

Want a gentle way to start shifting your relationship with your body?

Try this simple 7-day challenge:

• One kind “I Am”- affirmation for yourself

• One thing you’re grateful for about who you are right now

• One small action of respect for your body (a stretch, a nap, a walk outside)

You can do all of them or just choose one. No pressure, no judgment just small steps to build compassion and connection.

Start today. Your body and your mind will thank you.

Summary

Weight is far more than a number or a simple equation.

It’s shaped by biology, history, trauma, and deeply personal experience.

True change happens not by fighting your body, but by understanding and partnering with it.

This post challenges myths and invites you to rethink weight with compassion and realism.

Start with habits, not numbers.

Because weight loss for weight loss’s sake won’t stick.

Build better patterns. Feel better. Let the rest follow.

Join the conversation: share your story, your struggles, and your wins.

Because healing and growth happen together, one honest step at a time.

And remember, I believe in you

Mari

Disclaimer:

This blog does not offer medical, psychological, or nutritional advice. I am not a certified professional. I simply share personal experiences, insights, and observations.

The content is not intended to replace professional assessment, therapy, or treatment. It is each reader’s responsibility to evaluate whether the information resonates or applies to their own situation, and to make independent decisions accordingly. I always encourage critical thinking and exploring multiple sources.