Weight loss doesn’t have to be a slog. On the contrary, it can be fun and exciting if you understand how to stay motivated and enjoy the journey. Weight loss is not about being perfect, and it’s not about having the ideal diet. It’s about changing your habits to make the right choices in your life. And, with the right motivation, you can do it.
Motivation is key in everything we do, especially when it comes to weight loss. If you are not motivated enough, it will be very difficult for you to stick with your diet and exercise plan. That’s why staying motivated during weight loss can help you achieve your goal faster and easier unless if you’re planning on having an operation like a gastric sleeve surgery.
If you are struggling to stay motivated, here are a few tips on staying motivated on your weight loss journey.
Take Small Steps
Small steps are necessary because they give you a sense of accomplishment and help you build momentum for the bigger goal. They also make us feel like we control our own lives.
If you’re trying to lose weight, start with short walks instead of running long routes. If you’re trying to eat healthier, try to make one healthy change at a time, or eat what you love, but in half a serving.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed and become paralyzed when you look at the scale, but it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that you will be able to see the changes over time. You might not know the weight loss right away, but you can see how much better you feel and how much better you can do, and that’s what matters.
Surround Yourself With Supportive People
You need to be around people who support your efforts and make it easy for you to change your habits. This could be your friends and family as well as partners. These people will be the ones who will push you when you don’t think you can keep going, and they will be the ones who will give you a reality check when you’re feeling like you’re not doing well.
If you’re spending a lot of time with people constantly telling you that you should give up on your weight loss goals because they seem unachievable, then they are not the right people to be around. On the other hand, if you’re spending time supporting yourself and your weight loss, you will be much more likely to stay on track and feel motivated to work on your figure even harder.
Set An Achievable Goal
Weight loss can be challenging and time-consuming. But it is also rewarding. To stay motivated, you first have to set an achievable, realistic goal that is good for you. It may have to be something small initially, but then you can work towards something more significant.
For instance, you may have an initial goal of losing 15 pounds. As you plateau and lose weight, you can move that goal to something more attainable, like losing 8 pounds. Consider your age, health, and other circumstances leading to slower weight loss.
Reward Yourself For What You’ve Already Achieved
One of the best ways to stay motivated is to reward yourself for what you’ve already achieved. For example, if you’ve been on a diet for a month, reward yourself with a movie trip, catch up with an old friend, or treat yourself to a glass of wine that you have stubbornly rejected.
You can also keep a weight loss journal and reward yourself each time you reach a milestone. For example, if you lose 5 pounds, reward yourself with a massage or a trip somewhere. In the meantime, think about what you will reward yourself with the next time you reach the next milestone.
If you do not feel motivated, think about what you have already achieved. Just getting started is a big step!
Final Words
Staying motivated during your weight loss journey is important because losing weight is a marathon and not a sprint. Instead of looking at the scale daily and wondering if you are making progress or getting stressed because of the few grams, you have gained (which is most likely just water and not fat), try focusing on how you feel.
Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of feeling unmotivated; put these tips to use and achieve your weight loss goals!
