It’s not easy to lose weight. Look at all the things you must battle: hunger, genetics, lifestyle . . . and sometimes, the shame of your gut hanging out when you’re at the gym with all those hardbodies. Given all these obstacles, isn’t it true that the idea of giving up suddenly becomes reasonable? Don’t give in, though – check out these tips and keep your motivation pumped!
See Your New Self
Lots of us were in great shape when we were younger – in high school, say, or in college. Is that your case? If that describes you, excellent! Go find some pictures of yourself from “back in the day” – not only will they bring up great old memories, they’ll remind you of the shape your body is used to being in. Look at yourself – remember the feeling that came from having a trim, fit body that responded quickly to every demand you placed on it?
Don’t feel bad if this isn’t you, because you can still visualize your new body. Don’t rush through this exercise – take the time to really see all of your new body. You know how important it is to have goals and deadlines, but keep them reasonable. For instance, five pounds a week might be too much, but one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half pounds a week is reasonable and attainable.
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Show the depth of your commitment by taking a risk. Get yourself something new, some piece of clothing in the size you’re aiming for – something that’ll really highlight your new weight and make you look really good – and hang it where you’ll see it all the time, like in your bedroom. Sometimes, it’s too easy to forget a weight loss goal. These pants, or whatever it is you get, will be a great reminder. This tip has worked wonders for many people who were wavering in their commitment to losing weight.
If You Want Something Done Right, Sometimes You Need To Get A Little Help . . .
If you go to the gym to work out on your own, are you more likely to work out, or to spend the afternoon watching sports on the big screen televisions? Now think of that same scenario, only you go to the gym with a buddy with whom you regularly work out. It’s easier to live up to things like doing your workouts when there are others depending on you.
Setting up an accountability friendship is another approach you might take. This is a technique that will make you feel very judged, especially at first. Every single day, before brushing your teeth, send your accountability friend a brief email, listing everything you ate that day. You need to be honest! Having to tell another person about your eating, when that person know you’re trying to lose weight, will frequently give you all the willpower necessary to resist temptation!
Accountability is a powerful motivator, and you’ll find this to be one of the most effective tips you’ll ever encounter.
Recognize Accomplishment – and then Get Back to Work!
Maybe your body’s gotten so out of shape it’s a source of shame. I understand. That doesn’t mean you have to be miserable all the time you’re on your weight loss plan. If you’ve had a successful week with your weight loss program, give yourself a little treat in recognition of a job well done! You can have a special dessert to mark the occasion.
You’re much more likely to get frustrated and quit if you never reward yourself when you achieve your goals. What’s worse, without recognizing your achievements, you might wind up sabotaging yourself. Letting an oppressive weight loss program make you miserable can be the worst thing that can happen to you, yet you can avoid it by permitting yourself a little indulgence once a week or so.
These motivational guidelines can give you powerful support in achieving your weight loss goals. Remember that if you do overeat or skip your workout, it’s not something to eat your heart out over. Nobody’s perfect, and plenty of good people have messed up on a weight loss program. Just get over it and get back to work!
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