Monday, October 20, 2008

How to Stay Motivated for Weight Loss Week after Week

By Rowena French

It is often said the most successful weight loss programs are the ones where you 'finish the way you start' but doing this can be quite a challenge. We always start new health programs on a 'high' with great intentions and plenty of enthusiasm but as we continue our goals for weight loss week in week out can seem more difficult to achieve and the effort this requires, more demanding. We know however that despite this predictable drop in commitment and drive, there are reliable ways to keep focused and continue to reach our goals.

Find an unflattering photo, showing you the way you were at your worst and fix it your refrigerator. It needs to be the worst picture you have of yourself, there for you to see whenever you head for the fridge to find something to eat. Each time you are about to swing the door open your heavy self will be there saying 'Close the door and go grab an apple' or 'The ice-cream in the freezer will keep you looking like ME'!

Build in incentives for your weight loss progress and record the achievements you strive for as well as the dates on which you reach them. Make your objectives and rewards specific like 'As soon as I lose 10 pounds I will buy the slinky black dress that's on sale at the store' or 'When I drop a size in jeans I will splurge on the matching jacket on display with them' or even 'When I lose 20 pounds I am going to Hawaii for a week'.

Make the effort required to reach your goals! Chart your progress and make sure that you do take time to enjoy the rewards you earn. This is a very important part of any weight loss program but especially over an extended time because it helps you see the benefits of all your efforts in short term and then across the long term.

Start a blog, name it My Weight Loss Week, and get a little digital support. Starting a blog will help you stay motivated to keep going because now you are accountable to your readers to stay on your diet and keep losing weight. Having a blog will also get you a lot of support from your readers in the form of helpful comments and emails to keep you motivated to stay on track.

A picture is worth 1000 words so flip through some of your favorite clothing catalogs and cut out photos of the clothes that you want to be able to wear when you are at your ideal weight. Pin them up on your closet doors, on your mirror, anywhere where you will see them. Stay focused on how you want to look when you are at your ideal weight, the time when your weight loss week in week out won't be needed, then visualize this and it will help you make it happen.

Read by going online or read books that detail the stories and successes of other people who have lost weight successfully. Reading about the success of others will help inspire you to keep going. After all, someday someone might be reading about your struggle with weight loss as a way to stay motivated and to stay on their diet!

Try new things and do not get stuck in a food or exercise rut. Try new ways to exercise. Consider a martial arts class, belly dancing, or take some friends to a roller rink or ice rink to skate for the afternoon or even go sledding or skiing. No matter what the season, there is sure to be some new outdoor or physical activity you can try to change your routine a little and take the focus off your weight loss week by week.

Surround yourself with friends and family who are genuinely committed to your weight loss and are prepared to do all they can to assist you with this. This does not include those whose subversive ways will encourage you to give up exercise or stop a healthy diet, for any reason and who prevent the progress which is possible for you. There is no place for in your life for these people because you are in control of your weight loss week by week and you will have no one stop you from reaching your goal. - 15266

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