How to Find the Motivation to Lose Weight

by Jessica Thomas, Personal Trainer

The biggest reason people can’t find motivation to lose weight is due to unrealistic goals. Expecting overnight success at a diet or exercise plan simply isn’t realistic. When desired weight loss goals aren’t reached quickly, most people assume they have failed.

To lose weight successfully, it’s better to focus on reaching your goals over time, and to realize that there will be small setbacks along the way. Many people tend to focus on their shortcomings, but if you accept yourself as you are it will be easier to focus more on your positive side and work towards becoming slim and attractive.

Weight Loss Motivational Techniques

Why do you want to lose weight? If you’re struggling with being overweight, you need to ask yourself this question.

For example, are you getting married and need motivation to lose weight for the wedding? Are you simply trying to get into your favorite pair of jeans again?

Do you have a serious health problem that requires you to lose weight? Have you tried healthy things like drinking green tea to lose weight?

Once you determine why you want to lose weight, it will be easier to set a goal and get motivated to work towards it.

One of the biggest reasons for weight loss failure is that dieters often set unrealistic goals. Many of us want to shoot for the moon, but we tend to get overwhelmed by the day-to-day realities of sticking with a diet plan.

That’s why it’s important to chart your progress in a weight loss journal. Seeing incremental improvements like a pound lost or an inch gone from your waist line can boost your motivation and keep you on the path.

Setting realistic and achievable goals has the advantage of focusing your mind on the here and now.  A goal is like a promise to yourself. Wanting to keep the promise is what creates motivation.

If the goal is too hard to achieve, you may give up. For example, if you say to yourself, “I have to lose 10 pounds this week!” then you are setting yourself up for failure before you’ve even begun. “Self-sabotage” happens when you set goals that are not realistically achievable in the short or medium-term.

Of course, motivation to lose weight fast is important, but it’s the process itself that you should be focused on. For this reason, you need to take small steps toward your long-term goal.

As you achieve each small step it gives you the forward momentum to take your motivation a step further. Before you know it, you’ve achieved bigger goals than you ever thought you could.

Visualize Your Weight-Loss Goal

One of the best ways to accomplish a goal is to visualize it actually happening. Successful athletes are known to visualize their goals on a regular basis. Diet counselors also say that one of the best ways to remain motivated to lose weight is to visualize your body after your weight loss goals are achieved.

For example, imagine yourself a year from now. After sticking with your weight loss and exercise plan, how will you look and feel 12 months from now? How might your life be different after you lose the weight for good? Imagine yourself fit, healthy and with more self-confidence.

Try to create a picture in your mind of how your life is going to be better if you lose those extra pounds, and worse if you don’t. Carry this picture with you until you have a clear sense of purpose.

When that purpose is there, you will find that you have the motivation to lose weight that you’ve been searching for. Remember that the deeper purpose that motivates you is the fundamental step to weight loss success.

Sure, there are lots of famous quotes on motivation to lose weight, but at the end of the day, it has to come from within you. Decide clearly on what your purpose and goal is, and you will find yourself moving towards it slowly but surely.

A weight loss success story will be yours to tell if you learn to live in the moment, and take pleasure in achieving small, daily goals. This is one of the most basic and important weight loss tips you will ever receive.

(published December 16, 2009)