The weight loss journey is long. Laughing at the absurdity of it sometimes is not just allowed — research suggests it actually helps. Self-compassion and humour predict better long-term outcomes than guilt and self-criticism.
On the Scale
"I'm on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it."
"My goal weight is the weight I lied about on my driving licence."
"I told myself I would lose 10 lbs before my holiday. Only 30 days and 12 lbs to go."
On Dieting
"I've been on a diet for two weeks and all I've lost is fourteen days."
"The second day of a diet is always easier than the first. By the second day you're off it." — Jackie Gleason
"Dieting is the only game where you win when you lose."
"My diet plan: make all of my friends cupcakes. The fatter they get, the thinner I look."
On Exercise
"I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me." — Fred Allen
"My idea of exercise is a good brisk sit." — Phyllis Diller
"I thought about exercising but then I remembered how much I don't want to."
"I joined a gym and told myself I'd go every day. That was six months ago. It's now my very expensive storage unit."
The Science Behind the Laughs
A study in the International Journal of Obesity found self-compassion — treating yourself with the same kindness you'd offer a friend — significantly predicted weight loss maintenance at 2 years. Guilt and shame, by contrast, predicted weight regain. So: laugh kindly at yourself, dust off, and carry on. You're doing better than you think.
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