Motivation is the single most important thing you need when you are trying to lose weight. Let's be frank, if you don't have the motivation to lose weight then you are not going to manage it. Losing weight is a lot more difficult than you would think. Your body has many ways of maintaining the status quo and you are going to need the motivation to prevent that happening.
So where do you get your motivation from? That's a simple one...yourself!
My motivation? Well, I posted some reasons for doing this early on in the blog and most of those are still relevant. However, as I've thought about this stuff more often one thing comes to the fore...
VANITY
It's a little shallow but it works for me. Generally I want to look good and feel good. Not only that but I want others to say I look good. In fact I want others to say I look great. That's all, pure and simple vanity. There's also an aspect of, "I knew I could do it when I put my mind to it!"
Whatever your motivation, it doesn't matter, as long as you have it. I know a couple of people who think they should lose weight and they stumble along trying but failing. They never lose weight because they don't really want to, they just think they should. If you haven't got the motivation to lose weight then that's OK, focus on being happy and confident in the skin that you're in until you decide you REALLY want to lose weight.
So if I wasn't so vain where would I get my motivation from. To be honest I'm not sure and I guess that's kind of the point, your motivation should be personal. However, if you're struggling then maybe some of these tips will help you out.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES
Some people I've chatted to on forums etc have said that it really works for them to have some motivational quotes pinned up around the place. The two I like...
Some people I've chatted to on forums etc have said that it really works for them to have some motivational quotes pinned up around the place. The two I like...
Never, never, never, never give up. - Winston Churchill
The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph! - Marvin Phillips
The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph! - Marvin Phillips
I've never seen the appeal but I'm going to print them out and stick them somewhere I'll see them on a regular basis, somewhere like a desk drawer at work so that I see them every time I open the drawer.
If you're looking for other motivation quotes try...
http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/WeightLoss2.htm
http://www.inspirational-quotes.info/weight_loss_quotes.html
http://www.inet.ba/~admahmut/quotes/1/weight-loss-quotes/
...or just type "weight-loss motivational quotes" into Google.
http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/WeightLoss2.htm
http://www.inspirational-quotes.info/weight_loss_quotes.html
http://www.inet.ba/~admahmut/quotes/1/weight-loss-quotes/
...or just type "weight-loss motivational quotes" into Google.
REMIND YOURSELF OF YOUR GOALS
You're obviously doing it for a reason so remind yourself of your goals. Buy yourself a smaller pair of trousers or a smaller skirt and don't stop until you fit in them. Put a really bad picture of yourself on the fridge to scare yourself into action. Pick a girl/guy you see often and promise yourself you'll hit on them when you reach a specific goal (I'm not telling you who mine is!...I wonder if by some miracle my girlfriend won't see this.) The list goes on. Whatever your goal though keep it close to you and remind yourself of it everyday.
You're obviously doing it for a reason so remind yourself of your goals. Buy yourself a smaller pair of trousers or a smaller skirt and don't stop until you fit in them. Put a really bad picture of yourself on the fridge to scare yourself into action. Pick a girl/guy you see often and promise yourself you'll hit on them when you reach a specific goal (I'm not telling you who mine is!...I wonder if by some miracle my girlfriend won't see this.) The list goes on. Whatever your goal though keep it close to you and remind yourself of it everyday.
GET RID OF THE FEAR
I know this sounds a bit stupid but for ages I didn't want to lose weight because I was scared of what would happen. I could think of so many reasons not to lose weight but it all boiled down to fear of failure. It's a bit cliché but it's true. I was scared of the loose skin. I was scared of looking like an idiot in the gym. I was scared it would be too difficult. I was scared people would think I was being vain (I'm not so scared of that one anymore!). The point is you can make excuses for everything but at the end of the day you've just got to suck it up, realise that if you reach your goals you'll be better for it and then get on with it. The simple "close" for getting rid of the fear is the Balance Sheet Close. Take a bit of paper, draw a line down the middle and then put a plus on one side and a minus on the other. Then it's simple. List all of the positives on the plus side and the negatives on the negative side and then weigh them up. Trust me you're positive side will always win out.
I know this sounds a bit stupid but for ages I didn't want to lose weight because I was scared of what would happen. I could think of so many reasons not to lose weight but it all boiled down to fear of failure. It's a bit cliché but it's true. I was scared of the loose skin. I was scared of looking like an idiot in the gym. I was scared it would be too difficult. I was scared people would think I was being vain (I'm not so scared of that one anymore!). The point is you can make excuses for everything but at the end of the day you've just got to suck it up, realise that if you reach your goals you'll be better for it and then get on with it. The simple "close" for getting rid of the fear is the Balance Sheet Close. Take a bit of paper, draw a line down the middle and then put a plus on one side and a minus on the other. Then it's simple. List all of the positives on the plus side and the negatives on the negative side and then weigh them up. Trust me you're positive side will always win out.
GET A SUPPORT NETWORK
Your not going to do this by yourself. Get yourself a good support network. Even if it's just a one close friend, or a parent, or a child, or a partner...get someone. I've found starting a blog about it helps! : ) There's a tonnes of weight loss forums out there you can join. Try http://weight-loss.fitness.com/index.php for starters. Again, what you need them for is that little shove in the right direction. Now that I've started my blog a whole bunch of my friends ask me how it's going when we meet up. That's despite being able to read about it nearly every day. I've also got a whole bunch of people I've never met asking me how it's going. Don't be afraid to talk to people...it's pretty impressive how many weight loss tips they'll have.
Your not going to do this by yourself. Get yourself a good support network. Even if it's just a one close friend, or a parent, or a child, or a partner...get someone. I've found starting a blog about it helps! : ) There's a tonnes of weight loss forums out there you can join. Try http://weight-loss.fitness.com/index.php for starters. Again, what you need them for is that little shove in the right direction. Now that I've started my blog a whole bunch of my friends ask me how it's going when we meet up. That's despite being able to read about it nearly every day. I've also got a whole bunch of people I've never met asking me how it's going. Don't be afraid to talk to people...it's pretty impressive how many weight loss tips they'll have.
HAVE FUN
This is quite an important one. When you're trying to lose weight you should aim to have more fun than anything else. There'll be times when you won't be having fun but if on average you have more fun than not then chances are you'll keep doing it. Get a gym partner so that the gym isn't as much of a slog. Use this as an opportunity to try out some new foods or some new recipes.
This is quite an important one. When you're trying to lose weight you should aim to have more fun than anything else. There'll be times when you won't be having fun but if on average you have more fun than not then chances are you'll keep doing it. Get a gym partner so that the gym isn't as much of a slog. Use this as an opportunity to try out some new foods or some new recipes.
Last but not least,
TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THE SUCCESS
Set small attainable goals that you can reach. Hence my 107kg in 2 weeks goal. It's a stretch but it's attainable. Once I make it I'm going to make sure I celebrate. Probably a few beers or maybe I'll go out and chat up some women or maybe I will just have a really nice desert or maybe I'll book in a kayaking lesson. I don't know what I'll do but I know I'll be rewarding myself when I reach the goal.
Set small attainable goals that you can reach. Hence my 107kg in 2 weeks goal. It's a stretch but it's attainable. Once I make it I'm going to make sure I celebrate. Probably a few beers or maybe I'll go out and chat up some women or maybe I will just have a really nice desert or maybe I'll book in a kayaking lesson. I don't know what I'll do but I know I'll be rewarding myself when I reach the goal.
That's all for now. I was thinking food for the next topic but I'll take requests.
Don't forget...Never, never, never, never give up!
The Shed Improving the Shed - Weight Loss the Shed Way [http://www.improvingtheshed.blogspot.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Siddle
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