| You've decided it's time to take off those | | | | eating habits that are healthy. Maybe you |
| extra pounds. It doesn't really matter how | | | | don't want to give up the sugary treats and |
| they got there, or why you want them gone | | | | get on the treadmill. But it is a simple fact |
| now. It's just time. Most people make the | | | | that slim people are slim because they get |
| commitment to lose weight twice a year, once | | | | more exercise and eat healthier. Emulate |
| around the New Year, and again as summer | | | | those good slim habits. |
| approaches. Most people are not successful. | | | | |
| Why? Because they lack weight loss | | | | Joining a weight loss group. |
| motivation. It is nearly impossible to lose | | | | |
| weight or accomplish any big goal, without | | | | Joining a weight loss group is a fantastic |
| proper and on-going motivation. | | | | way to get plenty of weight loss inspiration. |
| | | | You can share triumphs and you can also give |
| So, where does weight loss motivation come | | | | each other moral support. You will hear of |
| from? | | | | other's weight loss successes and gain |
| | | | inspiration from them. Weight loss groups can |
| First and foremost, it must come from within. | | | | be the kind where you attend regular meetings |
| Deciding to lose weight because your partner | | | | or they can be virtual groups that you join |
| wants you to, or because you want to look | | | | online. |
| like Beyonce or Matthew McConaughey is fine, | | | | |
| except it probably won't work too well. Your | | | | Join a gym. |
| weight loss motivation must start with you. | | | | |
| Your reason for losing weight must be that | | | | For some, spending the money on a gym |
| you sincerely want to do this for yourself. | | | | membership is enough motivation to go and |
| Once you've established this, you need to add | | | | workout on a regular basis. If you want to |
| healthy motivators to your arsenal. | | | | join a gym, make sure you make use of the |
| | | | membership. Cardio and strength training are |
| Here are some ways to find motivation and | | | | one of the best ways to lose weight and get |
| inspiration: | | | | in great shape. Besides, you can see others |
| | | | at all levels of fitness at the gym from |
| Make your weight loss goals attainable. | | | | beginner to advanced. It's inspiring to see |
| | | | all those other people working to accomplish |
| If you need to lose 100 lbs, you are not | | | | the same goals that you have. |
| going to do it in a month, regardless of what | | | | |
| the infomercials tell you. But if your goal | | | | Other ways to stay inspired and motivated. |
| is to lose 8 to 10 lbs a month resulting in | | | | |
| losing the whole 100 lbs in about a year, | | | | Other ways to keep yourself inspired and |
| that's very realistic and you will find it | | | | motivated might include having a friend to |
| much easier to attain weight loss success. | | | | exercise with so that when one of you is |
| | | | feeling lazy, the other can be the motivator. |
| Use visualization as a tool. | | | | You can also place photos of yourself when |
| | | | you were slim where you can see them every |
| Visualization is a wonderful inspirational | | | | day. If you were never slim, find a nice |
| tool that can help you achieve any type of | | | | photo of someone who is and put it on the |
| goal, not just weight loss. Every day when | | | | refrigerator or in another conspicuous spot. |
| you wake up, take time to close your eyes and | | | | Other ways to self-motivate could be to keep |
| create a mental image of yourself as you lose | | | | a journal of how you are feeling, what you |
| weight. How will you look in one month? How | | | | are eating, and what kinds of exercise you've |
| will you look in six months? In a year? Take | | | | done each day. Make sure that when you |
| time to see all the details. The size tags on | | | | accomplish a goal, whether it's one pound or |
| your clothes, the bathing suit you will be | | | | one jeans size that you give yourself the |
| able to wear, and the tailored suit or fitted | | | | credit you deserve for sticking to it. |
| dress. You can do this by writing the details | | | | |
| in a journal as well. | | | | The process of losing weight can be an |
| | | | inspiring experience when you see that you |
| Adopt the healthy habits of people who are at | | | | have the power to creatively find motivation |
| the weight and fitness level you admire | | | | and change your life. Once you decide that |
| (within reason of course). | | | | you want to lose weight for your own sake, |
| | | | you're on the right path. Remember that |
| Matthew McConaughey and Beyonce probably each | | | | weight loss inspiration and motivation begins |
| workout for several hours every week. That | | | | with you. Find the techniques that work best |
| may not be realistic for you. But you can | | | | for you, and remember to honor your |
| still increase your exercise and employ | | | | successes. Good luck! |