Changing your diet and exercising regularly in order to lose weight sometimes seems impossible. Human beings are creatures of habit, and changing those habits is often very difficult. However, in order to preserve our health, those transformations are at times necessary. We understand your struggle, which is why, in the following article, we are going to give you some tips on how to motivate yourself and endure on this journey.
Our first advice is to clearly determine why you want to lose weight. Knowing the reason why you are doing something and setting goals you want to reach is the most important thing. Maybe your health is declining, or there is an important event approaching and you want to look your best, or maybe, you just don’t feel comfortable in your own skin.
Whatever the reason is, in order to persist and be successful, that motivation has to come from within you. You should write down all the reason, and place them somewhere where you will see it constantly. This way, you will always remind yourself why you are doing this. If it seems too hard, find a friend who will embark on this journey with you.
Furthermore, set realistic goals. Nowadays, there are many products that advertise quick weight loss. Not only is it unhealthy to lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time, but it is also practically impossible. Every doctor will tell you that losing 1 to 2 pounds a week is great. So don’t think you will lose all the weight in a few weeks. If you do this, you will be disappointed when that doesn’t happen, and you will probably quit the new regime and return to old habits.
Give your body time to adjust to change, be persistent and all that extra weight will go away. Even if you lose only a smart percentage of weight, you can feel much better. If you want to find all the benefits of losing weight, and if you need the inspiration to start working out, you should check out some of the motivational tips by Jason Lee from Perfect Body Mate.
Another great way to motivate you is to set small goals. Make a list of small goals you want to achieve. For example, say that you will go for a 30-minute walk four times a week, or that you will eat three servings of vegetables tomorrow. Write them all down, and thick them as you complete them. This way you will feel a sense of accomplishment.
What’s more, you can set your first goal to be to fit into that pair of jeans you haven’t worn for a while now. Trust us, when you lose some weight and put those jeans on, you will feel like you are on top of the world and that there isn’t anything you can’t do.
Another very important thing that you have to do is to choose a diet plan that suits your lifestyle. These days, there are many popular diet plans, but you have to pick the one that works for you. You should avoid diets that completely exclude certain types of food, and choose the one where you will eat everything, in moderation of course.
Moreover, writing a weight loss journal is another great way to motivate you. Don’t only write down the inches and pounds you have lost, but also everything you eat during the day, and also document all your emotions. After a while, it will help you to reduce stress levels and also, upon seeing the progress you have made, you will be encouraged to continue.
Finally, don’t forget to celebrate every small success and reward yourself. Go out and buy that dress that you loved but you couldn’t fit into. You will feel more confident thus motivated to work towards the final goal.