It can be hard to keep your motivation to lose weight strong. When time becomes short and life becomes stressful you can forget your weigh loss goals. Don’t let that happen. With a little preparation, you can set yourself up for success. Here are 7 ways to keep the motivation to lose weight running high!

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Establish clearly defined goals and how to accomplish them

Early on, finding the motivation to lose weight can be daunting, but setting yourself up for success can make life a lot easier. First, you need to establish exactly how much weight you want to lose. Some people can set themselves up for failure by creating too high a goal that is undefinable. Instead, shoot for short term goals and aim for something realistic, like five percent weight loss. Even a goal as small as that can have positive results on your body. In addition, consider these other factors when trying to define your goal:

• How often can you work out?
• Where can you change your diet?
• How can I measure my weight loss?
• What is the time I have to achieve my goals?
• How easy is the diet or workout routine to implement into my life? (for beginners it should be fairly easy to get yourself going)
• Do you need any equipment to achieve your goals?

Design a workout routine and diet that works for you. Maybe you cut out sodas for the week or you walk for 30 minutes every day at work? Don’t start working out an hour and a half each day. if you’re new to working out you’ll be sore and want to quit within a week. Instead, shoot for goals that can be easily accomplished. Push yourself a little further each week to gain momentum. This should keep your motivation to lose weight up and on the right path.

Write down your motivation to lose weight

One of the best ways to increase your motivation to lose weight Is to write your goals down. You can do this in a weight loss journal, a calendar, or on your phone. You need to write down why exactly you want to lose weight and be able to see it often. Be specific about why this is going to be a good thing for you, and those around you. Write how this is going to help you deal with stress and anxiety that comes from life. Write down specific reasons why you are working out on Post-it notes. Then place them on a mirror or somewhere you will see them every morning. It will remind you of your goals for the day and what you want to accomplish. 

Track your progress

Throughout your time of losing weight, you’re going to hit roadblocks. During those mental and physical setbacks, it will be important to look back on how far you’ve come. Keep a journal of your weight loss goals or use an app to track your progress. Apps like MyFitnessPal can help track your calorie intake and keep track of when you hit goals. Not only does this give you the motivation to lose weight, but it helps you stay on track with your goals. It’s nice to see that you have made progress on more than one occasion.

Meet with a nutritionist

If you are looking for motivation to lose weight then meeting with a nutritionist might be the right call for you. A nutritionist will look at your diet and track how your body reacts to certain food groups. They will then make certain suggestions on how you can lose weight, and the best ways to manage cravings. A nutritionist can also help you come up with a workout plan that isn’t too taxing on your body. They help give you a scientifically accurate plan to fight obesity.  

Find a workout group

Weight loss motivation doesn’t always need to come from within yourself. Sometimes we all need a little help. Joining a workout group such as CrossFit, Barre, Yoga, and others can have a positive impact on your workouts and mood. Instead of your workouts as a solitary endeavor in which you are in competition with yourself, you can turn it into a social event. Joining a workout group is a great way to find the motivation to lose weight. Plus, there is always the option that you make new friends or meet that “special someone. ” Also, if you are a competitive person it is nice to build one another up through competitive exercises. It takes the “work” out of exercising and just becomes a new challenge to overcome.

Entertain yourself while working out

One of the best ways to motivate yourself to lose weight is to try and entertain yourself while working out. This can be done whether you workout at home or go to the gym. Try watching TV while doing lunges or push-ups. Listen to the new album you’ve been meaning to catch up on while jogging around the block. A great way to catch up on all the books you want to read is to listen to Audible while walking. It helps get your mind off of the exercise and focused on the book.  It makes the workout go faster and makes it more enjoyable. If you like working out alone it’s also a great way to block out the world.

Know that one failure doesn’t define you

There are going to be times when you mess up. Whether it’s eating another slice of cake or skipping a workout, we all fail at some point. That doesn’t mean you have to quit making progress. Find the motivation to lose weight by recognizing that you are only human. It’s okay to make mistakes and fail but always get back up. Lastly, here is a piece of motivational wisdom from Theodore Roosevelt:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat”

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