A big reason many people struggle to lose weight is due to a loss of motivation. When beginning a new weight loss program, a person’s motivation can start out very high. You might have your goals firmly in place, have a plan to follow, and start off with a bang. However, after several weeks, it may feel like you’re on a hamster wheel, doing the same routine with little to no progress.
During those times is when motivation can be very low. When you have some goal that you are trying to achieve, there will be setbacks. It takes work to keep your motivation high to want to keep going. When it comes to diet and exercise, there are a few key things to keep in mind to stay on top of your game.
1. Find your heroes: There are many people who have been where you are and managed to get in the best shape of their lives while facing incredible odds. Find out how they did it and use them as your source of inspiration.
2. Dive into the topic: Health and fitness books, magazines, and TV shows are everywhere. Become an expert at it. Read and gain knowledge about the best foods to eat and the most effective exercises to perform. When you immerse yourself in the subject, it becomes a natural part of your life.
3. Connect with other health-conscious people – Surround yourself with other people who enjoy health and fitness. They could be family, friends, or even health and fitness clubs in your area. It’s much easier to stay motivated when you have others who understand you and push you to stay on track.
4. Reward yourself: When you reach small milestones, reward yourself with new exercise equipment, clothing, or shoes. What makes you happy.
5. Have fun – Don’t view losing weight and getting fit as a chore. When you do that, it just becomes more of a struggle. Take it one day at a time and do everything you can to stay positive. Remember that every day that you eat well and/or exercise, you are doing yourself a great favor.
Lastly, don’t stress about what you see on the scale. Many people care so much about what the scale says when they step on it that they dismiss all the other progress they’ve made. A good idea is not to weigh yourself every day. Once a week should suffice and will allow you to see much greater progress from week to week.