When the Road to Better Health Feels Too Long

I told a friend the other day, “I’m not unhappy with the scale these days. But I gained so much that it will take forever until I feel like I’m actually making progress.”

She paused. Then she said, “You should write about that.”

So, here I am.

Because I don’t think I’m alone in this.

When You’ve Got a Long Way to Go

When you’re on a health journey with a lot of weight to lose, or even just a big gap between how you feel and how you want to feel, it can feel like you’re at the bottom of a mountain, staring up at the summit. And not only is the climb steep, but it’s foggy, and you may not even be sure the summit exists.

Even when you’re doing all the “right” things — eating better, moving your body, drinking more water, going to bed earlier — the results can feel insurmountable. The scale barely moves. Your clothes still feel snug. Your energy hasn’t increased yet.

It’s hard not to think: “I’m doing all this… and not much is really changing?”

You’re Not Failing. You’re Just Early.

The beginning is the hardest part. And when your goal feels miles away, it’s tempting to believe that nothing you do now will make much of a difference.

But here’s what I want you to hear, and what I need to hear, loud and clear:
You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just in the early stages.

Think of it like planting a garden. You water, you wait. You pull weeds. The dirt still looks like… dirt. But something is happening underground.

Your job isn’t to rush the sprouting.
Your job is to keep showing up.

What Is Progress, Anyway?

We’ve been taught to measure progress with numbers:

• Pounds lost
• Inches dropped
• Calories burned

But progress can also be:

• Saying no to a second helping when you’re already full
• Saying yes to breakfast when you’ve been skipping meals
• Taking a 5-minute walk even when you didn’t want to
• Logging one more day in your food journal
• Drinking a few more ounces of water than yesterday
• Talking to yourself with kindness instead of shame

Tiny wins are the building blocks of big change.

6 Ways to Stay Motivated When It Feels Like Forever

Here are some practical strategies for staying motivated when your goal still feels far away:

1. Set Mini Milestones
   Don’t wait until you’ve hit your final to celebrate. Break your journey into 5- or 10-pound increments. Or better yet, celebrate non-scale victories: more energy, better sleep, fewer cravings.
2. Track the Right Things
   Track your habits, not just your weight. Are you drinking enough water? Moving your body daily? Prioritizing sleep? These behaviors are wins no matter what the scale says.
3. Document How You Feel
   Start a progress journal. Write about your mood, energy, digestion, or how your body feels after meals. You may notice positive changes long before the mirror shows them.
4. Find a Support System
   Surround yourself with people who get it. People who understand that change takes time and who will cheer for you even when the results are slow. People who’ve already done it and know what it’s like. (If you don’t have a tribe like that, you’re always welcome in the Health Warriors Tribe).
5. Focus on the Next Right Step
   Don’t get overwhelmed by the long road. Just focus on the next decision. Can you make your next snack a little more balanced? Can you take a 10-minute walk today? One step at a time. Even baby steps are steps in the right direction.
6. Practice Radical Self-Compassion
   You don’t need to earn self-love by losing weight. Speak to yourself like you would a friend on this journey. You are worthy of care, grace, and encouragement—every single day.

The Truth Is…

It might take longer than you want.
But it won’t take forever.

Every choice you make today is shaping the version of you that’s coming. She’s already in motion. She’s already on her way.

And you know what? You don’t have to wait until you reach your goal to be proud of yourself. You can be proud right now. Because you’re showing up. And that counts.