Monday, July 6, 2009

Losing Weight and Staying Motivated

By Adrian Norris

Losing weight is simple. The simple weight loss secret is this: eat less, eat better and exercise more. Simple is not the same thing as easy. Not by far. Losing weight requires you to get into a pattern and stick with it.

Old habits die hard. And if you are used to eating junk and skipping physical exercise, it will be really easy for you to rationalize skipping that trip to the gym today because you are tired or eating dessert because it's a "special occasion." Often we let go of our long-term goals for short-term gratification.

Weighing yourself every day is a key part of keeping motivated. The scale gives you constant feedback on how youare doing, and the numbers donat lie. Knowing that youall have to weigh yourself tonight before bed might be the extra motivation you need to say no to that fatty dessert after dinner. When youare tempted to break (or bend) your diet, that can be your resolve to say no.

Second, you need to focus on a long term goal. A goal weight, a waist size - whatever will focus your mind. You want to remind yourself about your goal a couple of times a day. Once again you need to remind yourself of your long term goals so

Make a picture of that goal and put that goal in a major location where you will see it every day. Put that picture in your wallet or on the fridge. The fridge works well because it has a direct link to what you are eating and what you are trying to achieve. Put a picture in your wallet so every time you open it up you see your goal. Hang up the outfit you want to wear on the bedroom door.

Third, it's important to have a support network. Tell friends or family members about your goal, filling them in on the details of your exercise and eating plan as well as your goal. Ask them to interrogate you about your progress every so often. Having to report to someone on your progress may push you to stick with your plan. Peer pressure isn't always bad.

Keep your eyes on your long-term goal, and don't let yourself be distracted by short-term success. It could make you lose weight quickly, stop your diet, and regain your weight quickly. Focus on long-term weight loss. Being competitive with your weight loss could be positive, but if you obsess too much about how others look youall start to feel depressed and disappointed.

So break down your ultimate goal into several smaller ones. Be able to take a quantifiable daily measure of your progress. You need your friends support to reach your goal. Weight loss doesn't happen overnight, so be prepared for it to take a while to see results. This is why you need a clear vision of your goal to see you through.

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