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It is normal to want to lose weight to look better or feel about yourself. Losing weight often requires a dietary adjustment, a daily work out regimen, or an entire change in your current lifestyle. These weigh loss necessities require dedication, enthusiasm and motivation. It is important to discover what inspires us to lose weight in order to maintain the level of motivation it takes to achieve results.
Many people who are just starting out on a diet may feel anxious, depressed or stressed out by the prospect of change. They may have made weight loss attempts before and failed, they may have been forced into a diet by their current health problems. In order for these people to overcome their negative feeling about starting a diet it is critical that they find personal motivation.
The first step is to identify your individual reason to lose weight. There is usually a compelling reason that triggers the desire to lose unwanted pounds. You mat no longer fit in your favorite pair of jeans, it may be difficult for you to play with your children, or maybe you just want to look good in a bathing suit for the summer.
Some experts suggest getting a stack of index cards. Then write down all benefits that you expect to achieve when you lose your weight. Then organize them in order of priority. This can act as a motivational tool because it requires that you think about each idea, compare it to others, and accept it in your mind. Putting things in black and white often help make them realistic.
You should keep your top five motivational index cards with you as often as possible. Put them in your desk at work, carry them in your purse, or keep a set in your car. When you feel like giving up on your diet just pull out the index cards so you can have a quick jolt of motivation.
Even if you feel good about your diet it is important to pull out your motivational index cards at least once a day, preferably when you wake up in the morning. The physical act of looking through the cards will help you remember what truly motivates you.
On days when you are feeling strong and confident about your weight loss attempt these written benefits might further inspire you. On days when you are not at your motivational peak the cards may help you avoid temptation by reminding you of your goals.
Another way to stay motivated to lose weight is to persuade a friend or partner to participate with you. Having someone close to you that is enduring the same diet may prove beneficial. You can talk to each other on days where temptations are especially strong and encourage each other to stay on track.
Joining a support group may also be helpful. Surrounding yourself with people in a similar situation can be motivational. You can feed off each other’s strengths and help get past weaknesses. Leaning on others has obvious benefits, but you may be surprised how much strength you can draw by being someone else’s support as well.
You will also find that once you begin to lose weight people will notice and begin to compliment your changing physique. Knowing that others are noticing your sacrifices may provide you with additional motivation to continue losing weight.
Attitude and motivation are critical in any successful attempt to lose weight. While it is important to understand the importance of losing weigh for health or physical reasons, it is just as important to identify the reasons you personally want to lose weight. You should use those reasons to keep yourself going.