Maintaining the motivation to lose weight commonly the most challenging aspect of losing weight. Many people have no difficulties signing up for a new diet or exercise program and getting all fired up at the beginning. It’s actually sticking with long term goals over a period of months and years that most people find hard. If you’re sick of losing and gaining the same weight over and over, here are some sure-fire tips to consider to maintain your motivation to lose weight.
Regularly Measure Improvements In Your Health
The motivation to lose weight is not just about looking and feeling better. It’s also about knowing you are healthier inside! One way to stay motivated is to visit your doctor and have blood work drawn just before you begin your new diet. You can return at regular intervals to see changes in your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other important numbers.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or another health problem, just going off of your medications and knowing you have eliminated the health risk can be great motivation.
Give Yourself Credit
You can your motivation to lose weight by tracking your compliance with goals on a daily basis. You essentially want to give yourself credit for all of your hard work, whether it be a sticker in a notebook or a checkbook in your day planner. If you are handy on the computer you can even create a chart that you update daily.
Team Up
If you can team up with a friend or family member who will hold you accountable, you could both reach your goals much quicker and push through the difficult periods. It’s harder to miss a workout when you know someone is waiting on you at the front doors of the gym.
You might even want to create friendly competition or set a prize that only one of you can win at regular intervals. If you have a competitive spirit this can be a great way to maintain the motivation to lose weight over a longer period of time.
Make a Date
Alternatively, you can sustain your motivation to lose weight by competing against yourself. Sign up for a 5K run (even if you have to walk it) every few months and challenge yourself to improve your time.
Rewards
Setting rewards to be enjoyed at regular intervals will help you keep your eyes on the prize. One big reward when you hit your goal weight won’t be very effective since it is so distant, but smaller rewards set every 5 or 10 pounds will deliver that motivation to lose weight.
Deeper Reasoning
It’s easy to say you want to shed 40 pounds to look hot in your bikini, but what are the deeper reasons you want to lose weight? Take some time to write down a comprehensive list that includes all of the reasons you want and need to lose the weight. Post it in your home or keep it in your purse so you can read through it when you start to lose motivation.
Now, take some time look at this from the other perspective. Make a list of all the things you foresee that could happen in your future if you don’t do what it takes to lose weight. Which list do you want to be living in the next 5 years?
Reflect on your own personality quirks to come up with more unique ways to create the motivation to lose weight.