How to motivate yourself to lose weight
IT’S easy to conjure images of a slimmer, fitter you, and it’s even easier to make a verbal commitment to a weight loss journey. But finding the motivation you need to follow through is sometimes more difficult than you imagined.
Gisel Harrow, personal trainer at Express Fitness, Liguanea, says that ‘difficult’ doesn’t mean ‘impossible’; you just need to get rid of a few old habits and explore a list of things that will pique your interest and make your journey stimulating and fun.
“Weight loss journeys can be hard if one doesn’t have the right mindset and discipline. However, to stay motived there are a number of tricks that you can explore, and habits that you can develop to make your fitness journey less burdensome,” Harrow outlined.
Below, she shares how:
1. Set realistic goals
To stay motivated, you have to start by setting realistic goals in short increments of time and trying to attain them as you go along.
2. Join a fitness club/class
It is likely that if you are exercising alone you will sometimes become lazy, take shortcuts, or skip on routines that you need to complete in order to satisfy the demands of your regimen. However, exercising as part of a group can reduce the likelihood of taking shortcuts.
3. Make a playlist
Compile a list of music that you enjoy listening to, preferably music that puts you in a happy place. Make sure that it is long enough to last for the duration of your exercise programme each day to avoid any interruption in your routine. Include additional tracks just in case you are in the mood to put in a little extra work.
4. Find a workout partner
If you can’t afford to join a class or to get a personal trainer, then you can simply find someone who has an interest in your weight loss journey, who will support you, and even better, who will join in on your journey.
5. Don’t become obsessed with the scale
A big damper on your exercise motivation comes with being overly obsessed with the numbers on the scale. Instead, go with how you feel after your workout, how your clothes fit, and how your body looks and functions. This is proof that you are achieving your goals.
6. Appreciate the progress
When exercising, we can sometimes get a little ungrateful. We are unappreciative of setting realistic goals. We want our fat to fall off like leaves from the trees in autumn, but that is not how weight loss works, and we first need to understand this. Secondly, whether the results are small or major, you should be happy about it.
7. Buy new outfits
Whether it is gym wear or regular clothes, just treat yourself. Get that new outfit to match your weight loss goals, as it will help you to feel better about the progress you have made.
8. Record your exercise journey
Start a blog, post on social media, or just log your records as you go along. These will not only act as memories, but you will have an audience to live up to, as well as people who will encourage you and even join you on your journey.
9. Sign up with a personal trainer
One of the best sources of motivation that you will ever encounter is a personal trainer. This person will keep you motivated and focused, and so even if you can’t see one every day, try to find one that you trust and be comfortable with. The trainer will also help you find the best routines to achieve your desired results.
