Self-Awareness Might Be THE Missing Piece in Your Weight Loss Journey
- Dr. Zachary Laboube
- Nov 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 4
You’ve heard the phrase "fat and happy" before, right? It’s tossed around casually, as if it makes everything okay. But let me be the first to say—I want you to be happy. Genuinely and legitimately happy. You deserve that. But self-awareness means we ask tougher questions, even when things feel good on the surface.
Because here's the hard truth: you can be content emotionally, while quietly slipping into dangerous territory physically. Being happy doesn’t mean you’re healthy. It doesn’t mean your blood pressure isn’t rising or your resting glucose isn’t inching upward and your HBA1C isn't blowing up. It doesn’t mean your joints are not carrying more weight than they were built to handle. Happiness doesn’t exempt you from reality.
Self-awareness is about taking an honest look at your habits, your health, your energy levels, and yes—your weight. It’s not about shame. It’s about responsibility. Because, as I said in a recent blog, your health doesn’t belong solely to you. It belongs to the people who depend on you—your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, your aging parents. They need the best version of you, not just the happiest.
However, this doesn't mean that you are not allowed indulgences and the joy that enjoying a meal or dessert with friends or family can bring. And let’s be real: nobody stays at their "fighting weight" 24/7, 365 days a year, nor is that what I am insinuating. Life has seasons, and your weight will fluctuate. That’s normal. But the key is having a plan to reel it in when you need to. Because if you don’t, that’s when it becomes unmanageable. That’s when the pounds don’t just creep up—they sprint and you soon become overwhelmed! If you can relate, it's time you start asking some tough questions.
If you’re already at this point—where it feels insurmountable and you don’t know where to start—know this: having your back against the wall is a position of strength. Because there's only one direction you can go—forward. Bank on it! Challenge yourself. Commit and follow through. Actually, for starters, just commit. Worry about the follow-through tomorrow, but commit today.
It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. The best part? You don't have to discuss or debate it. Forward is the only way to go, which means discipline and it means better behavior. You owe it to yourself and you owe it to your loved ones that depend upon your health for their well-being. That's what mom's are for - the well-being of all of those that depend on you. It's a sad truth, but a reality that I'm certain you treasure.
If you’re one of the millions stuck in a cycle of yo-yo dieting, do NOT beat yourself up. Yo-yo dieting has gotten a bad rap, but it actually shows that you can lose the weight—I do my diet once every January. Does that make me a yo-yo dieter?
I have some women that do my diet one to two times per year. I've become very good friends with them over the years. Does that mean they're doing it wrong?
No! A resounding NO!
You're allowed to put on weight over the winter. You're not as active, so of course you're going to put on a few pounds. The thing that makes it ok is this... You have a PLAN! That's the critical part.
Think about elite athletes like MMA fighters or boxers or even baseball, basketball or football players.... They regularly gain 20-30 pounds in the off-season, then drop it with precision before the step onto the field of competition. Why? Because they have a plan. They know how and when to dial it in.
They’re not afraid to indulge, because they’re confident in their ability to course-correct. That’s what real self-awareness looks like: the ability to enjoy life, but also the discipline to realign when the time comes.
"That's also what allows you to enjoy indulgence - or many indulgences!"
It’s not about perfection. It’s about mindfulness. That starts with real food. It starts with meal preparation, moving more (as simple as walking), and cutting out the processed garbage that has become the standard in the Standard American Diet (SAD). Yes, appropriately accronym'd SAD.
Remember: health isn’t punishment. It’s power. It’s freedom. It’s how you show up better for the people you love. The people that love you and rely upon you.
Self-awareness doesn’t mean obsessing over every pound or macro. It's not about counting calories or carbs on a daily basis. It means being honest. It means noticing when things start to slip and having a system to reel it back in. If you don’t have a plan, that’s okay. That’s what we’re here for. I can help you with that.
Let me and InsideOut Wellness be your wake-up call—not from guilt, but from clarity. You can be happy and healthy. But it starts with being aware.
If this message resonates with you, please, check out a few of the other blogs I've written. I'm certain that you have all the information that you need to lose 20-30 pounds within 30-40 days with my book, HCG 2.0 - A Modern Adaptation of the Traditional HCG Diet, but it doesn't supply you with the self-awareness and the discipline. But that is my fav part. I want to be a motivator, not a menu.
If you can make the time to read these three blogs, you'll have all the tools you need to be successful...
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