How to Stay Motivated During a Weight Loss Program

Losing weight can be a long, frustrating process. The key to success is perseverance. If you’ve started a weight loss program and are looking for help in staying motivated, try the following tips.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Keep a photo of yourself at your heaviest posted in a place you will look at it frequently. Placing a photo on your bedroom mirror will remind you each morning of what you’re working to overcome. If you have a photo of when you were lighter, post that in the same place so you can visualize your goal every day.

2. As you lose weight and your shape changes, place new photos next to the old. This will give you visual reinforcement that you are making progress.

3. Chart your measurements in a journal. Record the dimensions of your waist and hips, rather than your weight, because muscle weighs more than fat. If your routine includes working with weights, the scale may not reflect the changes taking place in your body.

4. Vary your routine. Alternate activities each day to keep things interesting, and to rest different muscle groups. Change between cardiovascular activities and weight lifting each day to add variety.

5. Remind yourself each day why you are trying to lose weight. Make a list and recite it each morning, or anytime you feel like giving in.

6. Have a weight loss partner. If someone is working alongside you it will make the change in lifestyle more interesting. Having a partner also makes you responsible to someone else, which can sometimes spell the difference between an hour in the gym and an hour eating chips on the sofa.

Tips & Warnings

• Don’t make weight loss and eating the focus of your life. If you look at your lifestyle change as permanent (which it should be) rather than a short term fix, the activities will be much easier.
• Be creative with your food choices. Consuming less calories does not mean eating bland food. Mix things up and try different items from all the food groups.