Apr
Without a doubt one of the reasons that so many diets fail is because we simply give up on them. One of the keys to effective weight loss is staying motivated.
After all, if you can’t stay motivated enough to stick with whatever diet and exercise plan you have chosen you simply aren’t going to lose the weight, right?
One of the most effective ways of staying motivated when you are trying to lose weight is by using before and after photos of yourself. There are actually a couple of reasons why this works so well.
First, a lot of times when you are dieting and exercising you will start to build muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat you might find that the numbers on the scale aren’t budging which can be very frustrating.
In the meantime, though, your body can actually be getting smaller even though your weight isn’t changing.
By taking pictures of yourself periodically as you lose weight you can actually see the results in your body even if the scale isn’t reflecting that you’ve lost weight.
Looking at a slimmer version of yourself each time you take a new photo can really help to motivate and inspire you.
Second, sometimes just seeing your before photo is enough to really get you inspired to start losing weight. Instead of being depressed if you don’t like what you see in the “before” shot, use it to motivate yourself and imagine how great it will feel to take your “after” shot.
Try putting on a bathing suit or a pair of shorts and a tight fitting shirt for your photos. Take a photo from the front, back and side so you can see all angles of yourself. If you are worried about it, digital cameras are great for this because then you don’t have to worry about getting the film developed and having someone else see your photos.
Store your photos on your computer somewhere. As you progress with your diet and exercise program, periodically take new photos and compare them to the “before” shots.
Odds are you will see areas of your body that are improving quite quickly. Use your progress to stay motivated to keep on track and before you know it you will be taking your final “after” photo and will have reached the size you want.
