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Where can I get the Motivation to Lose Weight?

Jessica Hobby
Jessica Hobby

When struggling to lose weight, many dieters have a hard time staying motivated to reach their ultimate goal. Although the motivation can come from many sources, many weight loss experts and dieters who have reached their goal weight will attest to the fact that their motivation to lose weight was internal. Once you figure out what keeps you going, your weight loss goals should become much more attainable.

Although the motivation to lose weight can be described as internal, it can still be influenced by outside sources. Many people choose to lose weight for a big event, such as a wedding or class reunion. Unless this big event coincides with your internal will to live a healthier lifestyle, the weight loss will most likely not be permanent.

Tracking your progress can be a good way to maintain motivation while losing weight.
Tracking your progress can be a good way to maintain motivation while losing weight.

For the kind of weight loss that will last, the first step is to make a commitment to yourself. It is important that you remind yourself of this commitment everyday, so write it in a journal, have it pop up on your computer screen, put a sticky note on the refrigerator, or hang it anyplace that you look at on a daily basis. Your commitment should be for a healthier lifestyle, with weight loss as a bonus. If you concentrate on the numbers, you can easily sabotage or depress yourself when you don’t lose as much as you want in a certain time frame.

Setting short-term and long-term goals can be motivational.
Setting short-term and long-term goals can be motivational.

In addition to committing to yourself, many people find that it helps to commit to a weight-loss support group and/or a weight-loss buddy, either in person or online. Some people also stay motivated by committing to a gym or exercise program. Those who pay money for some of these things find them even more useful because they don’t want to waste the money they have spent on outside help.

Maintaining a food journal is a great way to track your eating habits.
Maintaining a food journal is a great way to track your eating habits.

Regardless of which approach you take, it is crucial to come up with short-term goals in addition to long-term ones. You need to see positive results to keep your motivation. If you keep your weight loss goals in 5 pound (2.5 kg) increments, you become excited every time you reach one of these goals. Take time out to reward yourself whenever you reach a goal — as long as the rewards are not be in the form of food. Treat yourself to a new movie or buy that pair of shoes you have been saving up for. Eventually, all of your small goals will add up, and you will have reached your ultimate long-term goal.

Discussion Comments

burcinc

I personally think that the best motivation to lose weight is health. I have a lot of health problems due to weight. I've developed diabetes, I have trouble breathing and I have chronic pain in my legs and feet.

What could be a better reason to lose weight than to be healthy? I've realized that health is the foundation for everything. When I had it, I didn't pay attention to it and now that I have bad health, I can't enjoy things as I used to.

I also think about my children and what they would do without me if I were to lose my health completely or die early because of the weight.

SarahGen

@donasmrs-- I don't think we should make weight loss an issue about other people. I also lost weight for my husband but after we got divorced, things went downhill and I gained back all the weight and even more.

donasmrs

Dating is a great motivation to lose weight. After I started dating, I started paying more attention to how I look. I wanted to lose weight and look better because I didn't want weight to become an issue when I like someone.

I'm also attracted to fit people, so I thought to myself, if I don't want to be with someone who is overweight and doesn't care about it, I shouldn't be that way either.

This was great motivation for me and I began exercising to lose weight and I watched what I ate. I lost thirty pounds and have kept it off!

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    • Tracking your progress can be a good way to maintain motivation while losing weight.
      By: sframe
      Tracking your progress can be a good way to maintain motivation while losing weight.
    • Setting short-term and long-term goals can be motivational.
      By: Alexander Zhiltsov
      Setting short-term and long-term goals can be motivational.
    • Maintaining a food journal is a great way to track your eating habits.
      By: pio3
      Maintaining a food journal is a great way to track your eating habits.
    • Finding a partner to exercise with can help someone to stay motivated.
      By: puhhha
      Finding a partner to exercise with can help someone to stay motivated.
    • Taking an exercise class can help a person stay motivated to meet weight loss goals.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Taking an exercise class can help a person stay motivated to meet weight loss goals.
    • Hiring a personal trainer can help someone stay motivated while trying to lose weight.
      By: CandyBox Images
      Hiring a personal trainer can help someone stay motivated while trying to lose weight.
    • Support groups can give people the extra motivation they need to lose weight.
      By: BlueSkyImages
      Support groups can give people the extra motivation they need to lose weight.
    • Couples may motivate each other to lead healthier lifestyles.
      By: Ferrante Pietro
      Couples may motivate each other to lead healthier lifestyles.