"Back in Line" with Dr. Mosier: Beyond the Scale

How to Stay Focused on the ‘Why’ After the Scale Stops Dropping

"Wow, Doc, you’ve lost a ton of weight!"

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of compliments on my weight loss. For me, this journey wasn’t just necessary for my health, but for my family as well. There were many tearful conversations when I weighed 370 lbs, where Ellen would ask what would happen to our boys if I didn’t make it—if I died young. The thought of leaving four boys without their dad was something I couldn’t bear. My size at that time put me at high risk for a heart attack, and that felt way too close for comfort.

Your compliments are incredibly encouraging and make this weight loss journey even more exciting. But, once I reach my goal weight (220 lbs) or lose a total of 150 lbs, what happens next? What happens when maintaining the weight becomes the "new normal"? When it’s no longer a big deal?

Having lost large amounts of weight before, only to gain it back (and then some), I often wonder: Why is sustained weight loss such a tough mountain to climb? I know many of you—maybe even you—have been on the emotional rollercoaster of weight loss and gain.

I’m no expert, just a friend on this health journey with you, but I suspect the excitement of losing weight is part of the fun. The challenge, the reward, and the constant progress. Right now, watching the scale drop is thrilling. Shopping for new clothes is a blast. And hearing people notice your hard work? That’s energizing.

But once the goal is achieved... no more new clothes, no more dramatic scale drops, and no more “wow, you’re losing a ton of weight.” The fun slows down. What follows is the task of maintaining that weight—a task that can feel a bit boring and tedious.

So here’s an idea: Focusing only on the goal will only take us so far, but focusing on why  we started the journey in the first place—our deeper reasons for the goal—will sustain us. Let’s keep our eyes on the bigger picture, the why  behind our efforts.

Your friend, Dr. Mosier