Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Keeping Your Motivation For Weight Loss

By Robert Kaufman


Losing weight is simple. The simple weight loss secret is this: eat less, eat better and exercise more. Simple is not the same thing as easy. Not by far. Losing weight requires you to get into a pattern and stick with it.

Old habits die hard. And if you are used to eating junk and skipping physical exercise, it will be really easy for you to rationalize skipping that trip to the gym today because you are tired or eating dessert because it's a "special occasion." Often we let go of our long-term goals for short-term gratification.

Weighing yourself daily provides excellent motivation, and the numbers on the scale donat lie. You will see numerical reminders of your progress every day if you do this. When you feel like breaking your diet, just visualize how the scale would read tonight. That can be the boost of willpower that you need to turn down temptation. That can be the reason that you exercise hard every day.

The second thing you need to do is choose a long-term goal. Your goal could be a certain dress size, an ideal weight, or just being able to run a 6-minute mile. Whatever keeps you on track works just fine. You need to surround yourself with reminders of your goal. Make sure that you think about it at least a few times each day.

Find a picture that represents your goal and put it in a central location that youall see often, like your fridge, your computer, or your wallet. If you are opening the fridge to reach for something to eat, seeing that picture reminding you of your weight loss goal might make you think twice. Keeping a picture in your wallet makes sure that you see it every time you open it. Pick an outfit that you want to be able to wear once youare at your goal size and hang it on your bedroom door as a reminder.

Third, tell a couple of supportive friends about your goal. Agree to update them at specific times on how you are doing. Be specific both on the goal and on the times. Peer pressure can be a positive thing if used correctly.

Some common pitfalls are getting sidetracked by short-term successes and comparing yourself to others. Remember that you are in this for the long haul, not just to succeed in losing a few pounds and then gaining it all back. And forget about others. Comparing yourself to someone else will only make you feel bad.

In short, you want to break down your big goal into smaller goals. You want to measure your progress daily. You want the support your friends to move towards that goal. Weight loss is one of those goals which can take a long time to see results so it is important to remind yourself what your goal is to gain the willpower to stick to your plan.

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