Waiting to lose weight? You know you should start by eating right and exercising, but maybe after that Big Mac this afternoon. Perhaps you can exercise tomorrow morning. You know how much you’ve been looking forward to sleeping in today.
If you’re like many who are waiting for the “right” time to lose weight, you have to convince yourself that now is the perfect time to begin a diet and exercise routine that you can live with. How, though, can you increase your motivation level to get started? Some of these tips might help.
- Carefully evaluate your health. See a doctor for a physical and discuss the status of your health. If you’re overweight, your doctor may tell you that you’re at risk for serious diseases. Your doctor may also help you learn which exercises and calorie restrictions are right for you.
- Examine your thoughts and feelings with regard to weight loss. Why do you want to lose weight? Is it for you? Is it so people will view you differently? Do you want more energy to play with your kids? Understanding your overall goal is a good way to get started.
- Set some little goals along the way of your journey. For example, when you’ve lost five pounds, buy a new shirt. When you hit ten pounds, give yourself a brief weekend vacation. Built-in rewards will help you get to your goal much faster.
- Create a weight loss plan for yourself. Include your goal, how much weight you want to lose, what the rewards are for each goal, and your exercise regimen. If you can see it on paper or on your PDA or on your laptop screen, you’re far more likely to stay motivated to continue. Use goal setting software like ACHIEVE-It! to help you get there.
- Build a support network. Whether it’s family, friends, or just people you IM with, let them know what you’re trying to do and ask for their help. If people are around you to remind you of your desires, you’re more likely to achieve them.
Ready, Set, Go!
Once your motivation is in place, you’re ready to move ahead. Try to keep yourself out of situations that will cause a setback. For example, if you know you’ll end up with a doughnut in your hand when you stop for morning coffee at the bakery, don’t stop for morning coffee. Buy a coffee maker and brew it to go. Avoid the sweets aisle at the grocery store. If you don’t buy it, it won’t be in the house for you to eat.
More than that, though, you know you won’t always be able to stay away from temptations, so learn to say “no” to danger foods or habits. Retrain your thoughts and remind yourself of your goals. The quickest way to put the weight back on that you’ve lost is to start eating the way you did before you started your diet plan. Retraining your thoughts to a healthier perspective will help you avoid the little temptations along the way and the much larger ones when you’ve reached your weight loss goals.
The road to weight loss and physical fitness is a long one, and it’s fraught with temptation and failure, but most people who make it to their goal say it was well worth the hassle. Become one of those people, and get started today.
