5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Losing 160 Pounds

Amber_Clemens_amber_c_fitness3 — amber_c_fitness/TikTok

Are you about to embark on a weight loss journey? Amber Clemens (@amber_c_fitness) is a weight loss warrior turned coach who lost a whopping 160 pounds by making a few impactful changes to her lifestyle. In a recent TikTok video, she answers an FAQ she gets: "What are some unexpected things about weight loss that I wish I had known going into it?" she says. "So here are some things I wish I would've known about weight loss going into my 160-pound weight loss journey."

Don't Put too Much Focus on the Numbers

Female bare feet with weight scale on wooden floor — Shutterstock

"Number one, the scale means a lot less than you think it does," says Amber. "The scale is literally going to change 24-freaking-7. She points out that weight fluctuates due to a variety of factors, including water weight, inflammation, if you have to go to the bathroom, food that needs to be digested, body, fat, muscle, "everything," she says. "So that number matters a lot less day to day than you think it does. What you wanna go for is an overall downward trend over a long period of time."

You Might Become Obsessed with "Body Checking" Yourself

"Number two, you will become obsessed with body checking yourself," says Amber. "I cannot tell you I was looking for every single little ounce of progress that I could see day to day. Do I like it all the time? No, but it's definitely something that I experienced."

You Need to Be in a Calorie Deficit

Calories counting , diet , food control and weight loss concept. woman using Calorie counter application on her smartphone at dining table with salad, fruit juice, bread and vegetable — Shutterstock

"Number three, a calorie deficit is a calorie deficit," Amber says. "It doesn't matter what you call it. Every single program out there is only going to work if you're in a calorie deficit. So if you try something and it feels really unsustainable to you, you don't have to do that thing because in general, for most people, if you're in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight. There's not some, like magic secret out there. The secret is a calorie deficit."

You Will Learn People's True Character

"Number four, you will learn people's true characters on a weight loss journey," Amber reveals. "You might lose friends. You might realize how fat phobic some people in your life really are, and people will be a lot more comfortable being fat phobic around you because they think you are automatically fat phobic because you lost weight. And people will say some really bizarre crazy things around you."

Will Realize Thin Privilege Is Real

"Number five, you will realize just how much of a thin thin privilege really is," Amber confesses. The way that people treat me, so vastly different now because I'm in a smaller body versus when I was 300 pounds, insane," she reveals.

💪🔥Body Booster: Before you embark on a major weight loss journey, mentally prepare yourself by talking to others who have been on the journey before you.

@amber_c_fitness 5 things no one tells you about weight loss. #5things #weightloss #weightlosstransformation #weightlosstips #bigsisteradvice #weightlossstruggle #fatphobia #thinprivilege ♬ nintendo wii (mii channel) song – julie on the internet