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The Top 7 Ways for Getting Motivated To Lose Weight

Even the most motivated person in the world has days… or weeks when motivation escapes them. That is the nature of being human and having more going on in your life then just your weight loss goals. Just because it is a natural part of being human doesn’t mean you throw in the towel and give up. There are a number of simple little things you can do both to find the motivation and keep it going strong so that you can reach your weight loss goals.

One: Be Good to Yourself

You deserve a reward for doing a good job at losing weight. Decide on a reward that is not food based to treat yourself when you reach a mini goal (such as not missing a day of working out all week… or losing five pounds.) This can be a new CD or book or something as wonderful as a schlep day (a day in your pjs watching your favorite movies.)

Two: Keep Track

Journaling is an excellent way to keep track of your progress and stay motivated with what you are doing. It can be a elaborate or as simple as you want. Keep track of your diet and exercise each day. Write down all the food you eat, the exercise you do. The struggles you had, the successes you had. You will start to notice the longer you stick with it the better you are doing, which will be motivating you to keep with it.

Three: Check Your Emotions

The key to winning the weight loss battle is to know when you are most likely to overeat. Ask yourself, do you eat when you are sad, mad, frustrated… stressed. Emotional eating is the number one obstacle for most people whether they realize it or not.

Four: Accept Yourself

You can’t change anything if you don’t first accept what you have in front of you, this includes yourself. Realistic self-acceptance is another key component of getting motivated to lose weight and staying that way. If you are out of shape and start a weight loss plan that requires intense exercise you are setting yourself up for defeat. You can make it a goal to do that exercise program, but first start with something realistic. You can’t run a marathon if you don’t prepare.

Five: Positive Thinking

No one is perfect, but if you focus on all the aspects that don’t make you perfect you are missing out on all the wonderful things that make you who you are. The same holds true for diet and exercise when it comes to weight loss. Don’t concentrate on the fact you couldn’t do 50 crunches, focus on the fact you did 5 and each day add another one. In a few weeks you’ll look back and go, Hey! I did it! I can’t wait to see how many I can do in another week! Positive thinking is key to getting motivated to lose weight – and to having that motivation last.

Six: Set Goals – Realistic Ones

Who doesn’t want to look like Jillian Michael or Tony Horton? While that may be an attainable goal for some people, it isn’t for everyone. In other words, don’t make your goal being a size 6 if you are currently a size 18. Make your first goal to get to a size 16 or 14. Small, easily attainable goals will help you feel like you are making progress, while moving towards your ultimate longer term goal at the same time. You will get to that size 6… one size at a time.

Seven:  Realize That There are Good Days and Not So Good Days

Motivation is like a wave on a beach. Sometimes that wave reaches the shore and washes up over everything… other times that wave just licks the edge of the shore. It’s still there but not as intense. You can still see the water, here it, feel its presence… and before you know it, it will be washing over your feet again.

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