Starting and then following a healthy weight loss plan can seem almost impossible sometimes. Most people just lack the motivation to begin, or they lose their motivation to stick to it. The good news is that there are several things you can do for increasing your motivation. If you are facing a lack of motivation, you can check out the following ways to build motivation needed for losing weight.
Determine the reason
First and foremost, you need to clearly define the reasons you want to lose weight. It helps in staying committed and keeps you motivated until you reach your weight loss goals. Go over your reasons daily and use them as a reminder when you are tempted to stray. The reasons to shed weight can include looking great for an event, preventing diseases like diabetes, fitting into a pair of jeans, or improving your self-confidence. While many people start the weight loss process on the recommendation of a doctor, research shows that you can achieve success when motivation comes from within.
Keep expectations realistic
There are a lot of products and diets that claim to offer you easy and quick weight loss. But, it is suggested that you lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. If your goals are unattainable, it can lead to frustration and this eats up your motivation. But, when you have achievable goals and are able to accomplish them, it will give you more motivation.
Focus on process goals
A lot of people who want to lose weight only establish outcome goals i.e. goals they wish to accomplish at the end. But, focusing on the end result can often derail your motivation because it feels distant and can be very overwhelming. Therefore, it is best to set process goals, or the actions that you will take for achieving your final target. For instance, you can set a process goal of working out four times a week, or working out for a specific period of time and so on.
Choose a plan you can stick to
It is best to look for a weight loss plan that you can actually follow and steer clear of those that you cannot follow in the long term. Hundreds of diets exist, but their goal is mostly to cut calories because reducing calorie intake leads to weight loss. However, you need to avoid strict diets that eliminate some foods completely. An all or nothing mindset does not give results in the long term. The key is to reduce portion sizes, decrease calorie intake, reduce snacking and add fruits and veggies instead of desserts and fried foods.
Maintain a journal
When you want to keep yourself motivated, self-monitoring is highly recommended. When you track your food intake, you are more likely to shed off the excess pounds and sustain your weight loss. Keep track of everything you eat to figure out what you can eliminate. Emotions can also be recorded in the food journal, as this can help in identifying triggers that lead to overeating, so you can find better ways to cope.
