Jan
Let’s face it, one of the hardest parts of losing weight is staying motivated. We all start out enthusiastic and gung-ho about how good we are going to be with our eating plans and exercise, but as time goes by that enthusiasm fades and we slowly taper off until we are back in our old habits again.
To successfully lose weight and keep it off for good it is really important to find ways to keep yourself motivated so you stick with your plan long enough to allow it to work.
These tips and tricks to stay motivated for losing weight really helped me (and still help me today) when I was losing. I hope they help you too!
Before Photos
One of the things I found to be most motivational was taking a “before” photo of myself when I first started out trying to lose weight. I won’t say it was easy to do, but in the long run I think it is what helped me the most to stay on track. In the beginning your before photo acts as motivation because it lets you see what your body really looks like (which was pretty frightening in my case!)
As you begin to lose weight your before photo stays motivational because it gives you a great reference point to see how far you have come. When you start feeling discouraged or like you want to give up snap a new photo of yourself and compare it to the before shot. You’ll be surprised to see how much your body has changed!
To get the best before pictures try taking them with as few clothes on as possible…like in a bathing suit. I know, I know…it can be pretty scary to slip on a swimsuit, but thanks to the advent of digital cameras at least you don’t have to take the pictures anywhere to get them developed, right?
Take photos from the front, back and side to get the best reference to use later to judge your progress. Use the photos anytime you need a reminder of why you decided to lose weight or when you need a boost to see how far you have come.
Photos on the Fridge or Cupboards
One of the reasons that I wanted to lose weight (aside from getting healthier) was to be able to wear some cuter clothes than I had been and look good in them for a change! To help motivate myself I cut out pictures of really cute dresses, jeans, and tops that I would love to wear and stuck them up on the fridge door and inside the doors of my cupboards. That way when I would go to sneak a treat I would be reminded of why I wanted to lose weight and it would help me to avoid temptation.
Try putting up photos of anything that reminds you of why you want to lose weight.
Keeping a Journal
You can try keeping a journal to track your weight loss journey. Write whatever you want in it - how your day went with your diet and exercise, how good you will feel once you have lost the weight, things that you want to do when you are thinner. A journal helps you to be accountable while at the same time helping you set new goals and achieve them.
Get a Workout Buddy
Having someone to workout with is a great way to stay accountable with your exercise plan. Usually if one of you doesn’t feel like working out the other will and vice versa. If you can find a friend in your area to workout with that is ideal. If that doesn’t work for you try going online to places like Self Magazine where you can meet others in your area with similar fitness goals who are also looking for a workout buddy.
If you have the time to care for a pet dogs also make great workout partners! Walking and playing with a dog is great for getting in shape. The best part is that playing with a dog won’t feel like working out at all. Just be sure you can really commit to taking care of a dog before you get one and choose a breed that has a similar activity level to your own.
Allow Yourself to “Cheat”
A lot of times we go on diets that are really strict and start to feel deprived when we don’t get to enjoy the foods that we like. Understand that it is OK to allow yourself to have a treat every now and then as long as you don’t go overboard. A lot of people set one day a week where they can eat what they want. Others have a small treat (like a Hershey’s kiss) each day to keep from feeling totally deprived.
If you have a bad day and totally fall of the bandwagon don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, try to figure out what triggered you to lose it and overeat and then vow to get back on track the next day. Don’t let one bad day blow your whole diet.
Brainstorm some more ideas for yourself that will help you to stay on track and stay in the game for the long run. I hope these ideas gave you a good jumping off point!
