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