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Overcoming Your Biggest Struggles on the Weight Loss Journey

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Starting a weight loss journey can feel like climbing a mountain with no clear view of the top. There are moments of triumph, but they live alongside moments where you may feel seriously stuck. It’s essential to understand that challenges along the way are not just normal—they’re part of the process, especially early on in your journey. 
 
Here’s how to overcome some of the most common struggles that can arise when you’re starting your weight loss journey:
 

Unraveling Unrealistic Expectations 

One of the biggest (and earliest) pitfalls when starting a weight loss journey is expecting immediate results. This is where the danger of quick-fix or fad diets comes in. But these methods often set you up for disappointment—and they’re rarely sustainable.
 
Real, lasting change takes time. It’s about making small, consistent choices that will pay off in the long term. Some days you’ll find yourself on a weight loss plateau, with the scale barely budging. In those moments, patience is key. Those changes you make today might not show up tomorrow, but they’ll add up over weeks and months.
 

Building Consistent Healthy Habits

The foundation of any successful weight loss journey is consistency and sustainability. Quick fixes might work for a few weeks, but a healthy lifestyle is built on habits you can maintain for life. The thought of making permanent lifestyle changes can be daunting. 
 
The good news is that the longer you stick with healthy habits, the more natural they’ll feel. Start small. Incorporate habits that you can realistically keep up, like adding an extra serving of vegetables to your meals or going for a 10-minute walk each day. Over time, these small changes compound for lasting results.
 

Seeing Progress Beyond Flaws

It can be easy to get trapped in a cycle of focusing on everything you think is “wrong” with your body. You might look in the mirror and only see what’s left to change, instead of seeing the evidence of all your hard work written all over your body.
 
Shifting this mindset is crucial. Start celebrating non-scale victories like how your clothes fit, how much more energy you have, or how long you can exercise compared to when you first started. Remember that the goal is better health, not just a number on a scale. You can love your body while losing weight! 
 

Not Feeling Supported

It can feel lonely when those around you aren’t on the same journey. Friends and family might not understand why you’re making different choices at mealtime, or they might unintentionally make it harder by offering you food you’re trying to avoid.
 
This is where living by example comes in. You don’t need to convince others to join you, but you can inspire them by showing the benefits of your lifestyle changes. And if you need more support, connecting with a community online or in person can make a world of difference. Others can relate to your experience, and they’re out there to cheer you on—you just don’t know it yet.
 

Overcoming Emotional Eating

When some people experience stress, boredom, or sadness, they can turn to (typically unhealthy) food as a source of comfort. Unfortunately, this may lead to overeating and complicated feelings of guilt. This emotional eating can be one of the hardest struggles to overcome and so often feels like self-sabotage. 
 
Breaking the cycle of emotional eating involves understanding your triggers and finding alternative ways to cope with your emotions. Whether it’s through journaling, talking to a friend, or going for a walk, having a plan for those tough moments can help you make healthier choices.
 

Considering Weight Loss Medication

For some people, weight loss medication can be a helpful tool, especially if they’ve struggled with obesity or medical conditions related to weight. It’s important to have an open conversation with your healthcare provider to decide whether medication is an option that could support your goals. (Just remember, medication is only one part of the equation—it needs to be combined with a healthy lifestyle for lasting results.)
 
Remember, struggles during the weight loss journey are often with the work of long-term change—and that’s challenging for anyone. So, give yourself grace. Progress may not always be linear, and there will be bumps along the way. But as long as you keep moving forward and building on those healthy habits, you’ll find that the changes become part of who you are.

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Important Safety Information
What is CONTRAVE?
See More 

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:

Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

Important Safety Information
See More
CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.
What is CONTRAVE?
See More
CONTRAVE is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of:
Important Safety Information
What is CONTRAVE?
See Less 

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:

Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

CONTRAVE may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Seizures. There is a risk of having a seizure when you take CONTRAVE. The risk of seizure is higher in people who take higher doses of CONTRAVE, have certain medical conditions, or take CONTRAVE with certain other medicines. Do not take any other medicines while you are taking CONTRAVE unless your healthcare provider has said it is okay to take them. If you have a seizure while taking CONTRAVE, stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider right away.

  • Risk of opioid overdose. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as heroin or prescription pain pills, to try to overcome the opioid-blocking effects of naltrexone. This can lead to serious injury, coma, or death.

    Get emergency medical help right away if you take opioids and you:

    • have trouble breathing

    • become very drowsy with slowed breathing

    • have slow, shallow breathing

    • feel faint, very dizzy, confused, or have unusual symptoms

  • Sudden opioid withdrawal. People who take CONTRAVE must not use any type of opioid, including street drugs, prescription pain medicines, cough, cold, or diarrhea medicines that contain opioids, or opioid dependence treatments, for at least 7 to 10 days before starting CONTRAVE. Using opioids in the 7 to 10 days before you start taking CONTRAVE may cause you to suddenly have symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you take it. Sudden opioid withdrawal can be severe, and you may need to go to the hospital. Tell your healthcare provider you are taking CONTRAVE before a medical procedure or surgery.

  • Severe allergic reactions. Stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, chest pain, or trouble breathing.

  • Increases in blood pressure or heart rate. Some people may get high blood pressure or have a higher heart rate when taking CONTRAVE. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure and heart rate before you start taking, and while you take CONTRAVE.

  • Liver damage or hepatitis. Stop taking CONTRAVE and tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness. Your healthcare provider may need to stop treating you with CONTRAVE if you get signs or symptoms of a serious liver problem.

  • Manic episodes. Bupropion can cause some people who were manic or depressed in the past to become manic or depressed again.

  • Visual problems (angle-closure glaucoma). Signs and symptoms may include: eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out if you are at risk for angle‐closure glaucoma and to get treatment to prevent it if you are at risk.

  • Increased risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines to treat their diabetes (such as insulin or sulfonylureas). You should check your blood sugar before you start taking CONTRAVE and while you take CONTRAVE.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is CONTRAVE?

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.