It's going to be hard.

While browsing through my Facebook newsfeed today, I stumbled across a post from a person who will remain anonymous. She's a major leader in the health and wellness industry, and I actually really admire her. That being said, this person had posted a new program put on by a weight loss/fitness organization that, in all its big, bold pretty lettering, promised to make "losing weight as easy as 1, 2, 3."

I get it. Companies have to appeal to people. They have to come up with attention-grabbing, fun phrases that will attract new consumers for their product. But let's stop for a minute and think about what they're doing here. As easy as 1, 2, 3? I'm sorry, but eating a donut is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Losing weight is not. Losing weight is fucking hard. It's exhausting, time consuming and emotional. And when we believe that it's supposed to be as easy as counting to three, we're setting ourselves up for failure. Try counting to 1,000,000 in Japanese. Then we'll be a little closer.

I don't mean to deter people from making healthy changes. I just want people to have a realistic expectation of the road ahead. I want people to be inspired, motivated and encouraged by companies and organizations, not mislead by them. After a month, I don't want people to feel defeated because they haven't had the results they expected in the first place. I want people to start associating happiness with healthiness, not with weight loss. I want people to be aware. 

Instead of making weight loss look easy, let's make it look real. Let's show people's struggles, celebrate not only the successes, but the act of getting up just one more time after another perceived "failure." Let's celebrate the choice to make permanent lifestyle changes in our lives. Let's share the stories of failed attempts, good intentions gone wrong and the giant bowl of potato soup I immediately regretted after eating last night.

I don't want to believe that it's easy, and I don't want you to either. I want you to believe that incorporating healthy choices, both in food and exercise, will make you infinitely happier knowing you're treating your body well. I want you to know that making healthy eating choices, even if they don't show on the scale, is still worth celebrating.

I want you to know it's not as easy as 1, 2, 3 - and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

I want you to know that you will gain some weight in the process of losing it, you will hit a goal "size" and realize it doesn't make you happy like you thought it would. You won't lose weight in all the places you want, and you'll have "trouble areas" for the rest of your life. You may realize, at some point, that your goal weight isn't going to happen - that your body won't be happy there. You will struggle to get back on track, due to this crazy thing we called "life." Things will take you off course - weddings, vacations, babies, new friends, and just plain old laziness. An SVU marathon will ruin a well-planned day of activity and you will, at some point, feel like a total dumbass in a gym, exercise class or fitness experience. You will look at yourself in the mirror and cry, laugh, celebrate and fantasize - sometimes all at the same time. You will search for motivation in some of the strangest places, and you'll get it from some of the most unexpected people. People will judge what you eat, and you'll start judging others. Worst of all - you'll start comparing yourself to others. Don't fall into this mind trap. Your happiness is yours and yours alone.

But somewhere in all of that, here's what else will happen: You'll be amazed at what your body is capable of. One day, that "I feel stupid" gym experience will turn into the "I feel like a rockstar" hour. You'll form a relationship with yourself, your body and your mind. You'll walk into that store you could never shop in and try on a size you haven't worn since high school. Sugar will make you sick - yes, that's a good thing. Learn from it. You will feel stronger, both mentally and physically, than you ever thought possible. You will post before and after pictures on Instagram and be overwhelmed with pride. You will see differences in your muscle definition way before anyone else does. You'll find yourself mindlessly choosing an apple instead of potato chips. Best of all, you will find happiness from treating your body like the temple that it is. 

Don't let anyone tell you it's going to be easy. Look around. If it were easy, we'd all be skinny healthy. But guess what? It's not easy, and that's why so many people choose the easy route. You don't have to be one of them, though. You can be stronger, fitter, healthier and yes - thinner. The best thing you can do though, is admit that it's going to be awful and hard and horrible and miserable sometimes. And, knowing all this, do it anyway.