Taking control of your health and wellness is one of the most important things you can do. Weight loss done right is a long-term process, and if you want to keep the weight off for years, you actually have to build in the right habits and do them consistently over time. The challenge is, eating right, and exercising for months on end, and not seeing those instant gratification results will wear down your motivation.
Many people who seek weight loss end up sabotaging their own success right on the cusp of the payoff. As you go through your weight loss and fitness journey, you’ll need to come up with various ways to maintain your motivation and drive so that you can reach your goal. Here are some ways to do that.
Small Milestones
Weight loss and getting the body of your dreams doesn’t happen all at once, it takes time and you trim down pound by pound. It’s important to celebrate those small wins because they build your confidence in yourself and your belief in the hard work that you’re doing. Build-in smaller milestones along the journey so that you can celebrate how far you’ve come. Your milestones can be tied to a certain number on the scale or on your waistline, but whatever it is, when you reach it, make a big deal out of it and savor it. You’ve worked hard to get it.
Burn the Boats
Weight loss is as much a mental and emotional game as it is a physical one. You have to make the decision and commitment to stay focused on your goal and never look back. If you want to keep the weight off long-term, you have to be clear that you will do what it takes to maintain your results. Why not truly symbolize that by taking actions towards your commitment? One thing people do is to get rid of all the clothes that are now too big or don’t look as good on your smaller frame.
You’re basically burning the bridge and making a commitment that you’ll never go back to your old habits. The great thing about this is that it allows you to make space in your closet for new clothes for your new shape. You can fill your closet up with everything from new jeans and fitness wear to formal dresses and workwear. That will give you even more motivation to keep pushing through the hard days.
Progress Photos
Weight loss isn’t always as easily noticeable, especially in the early stages. Looking at yourself in the mirror, you might not actually see that you’re shedding the pounds and getting into better shape. When you don’t see those results, you’ll feel like the program isn’t working and you’re more likely to give up and sabotage yourself. To nip this in the bud, start taking weekly progress photos, as you stack them up over time you can really start to see yourself change. You’ll be motivated to keep on working so that the next progress photo shows that your work is indeed paying off.
Join a Community
Doing your weight loss journey alone makes it feel a lot harder, and that can make you want to give up when the going gets tough. Luckily, you can join a community and get the support and accountability you need through the internet! Whether you choose Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, or a Facebook group, find a place where you can be part of a bigger group working towards the same goal and plug into it.
Fall in Love With the Process
Weight loss is a byproduct of taking good care of yourself, and if you focus on the right things, you will get the results you want. It’s so easy to spend your time focusing on the outcomes, but that can set you up for disappointment. Instead, fall in love with the process of being healthy. Eat food that’s healthy but still tasty, do workouts that you can sustain in the long run, and actually shift into being a healthy person – that way you will be part of a process you enjoy, and then on top of that, you’ll love the outcomes when they start to happen. When you want to lose weight and keep it off, instant gratification is not the right way to go about it. You have to commit to the long-term process of changing your behavior, becoming more active, and eating the right stuff. Emotionally and mentally, you might start to struggle with your motivation, but if you implement these measures, you’ll be able to keep going in the long haul.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
