When it comes to weight loss, one of the most common things I hear all of the time is this:
"I'd love to lose weight, but I just don't have the motivation and the drive to do it!"
Sadly, this is a statement that is all too common in the modern world today. Saying this to yourself is like crushing your soul. You're already giving up before you even get started, so why even waste the time thinking about dropping a few pounds? With a mindset like this, it shouldn't be a surprise that weight loss is a battle that is hard-fought and tough to crack.
Giving Up Does More Harm Than Good
When you're faced with a challenge or conflict in life, giving up (or running away from the problem at hand) seems like the easiest way out - and it is. What many fail to realize is that while it might make you "feel better" at the time, the problem is still there. The longer you continue to avoid the issue, the worse things will get as time progresses. You will never move forward and will continue to remain stuck where you are until you decide to muster up the confidence to tackle those challenges now.
Don't even try to press the "easy button". It doesn't work and it never will. That probably doesn't leave you with a whole lot of hope if you're still not thinking twice about getting your tail in gear. Thankfully, we're going to make that all change right now!
How to Turn Things Around
There are a number of ways to increase your motivation to lose weight. The key is to remain consistent by implementing a variety of techniques that can help you stay focused on your task at hand. Lose that focus, and you risk your progress.
Worried about your lack of motivation lasting forever? Don't be. Instead, just check out these 3 incredibly effective ways to explode your motivation and help you keep your eye on the prize!
#1 - Break Down Goals into Smaller Chunks
If you want to get your motivation up and running, goal setting is crucial. However, it isn't as easy as just saying something along the lines of, "I'm going to lose 100 pounds in 6 months." While this can happen, setting a goal THAT big is an easy way to crush your motivation before you even get started. It's like staring at the peak of a mountain from the bottom and thinking only about reaching the peak, rather than the focusing on the steps you will take to get their first.
Making your goals more manageable is a matter of breaking them down into smaller chunks. If you're goal is to lose 100 pounds in 6 months, you know that 6 months is equivalent to roughly 26 weeks. If you take 100 and divide that by 26, you end up with a figure close to 3.87. That means in order to lose 100 pounds in 6 months, you would need to lose up to 3.87 pounds per week for a duration of 26 weeks. When you break it down like that, the climb up that mountain doesn't look so bad now, does it?
#2 - Don't Be Afraid to Reward Yourself
For some people, the reward of a healthier and better looking body isn't enough to get them in gear. That's why using an incentive can be a great way to give yourself that extra push.
The idea is simple - once you hit your target or goal, the incentive is yours to keep. Of course, it is up to you to choose how you want to setup your rewards and the goals you need to hit to get them.
The only way a reward will pay off and increase your motivation to get moving is if you stay true to your word and don't cave into temptation. Fortunately, there are ways around this for those who don't feel confident in sticking to their word. Websites like stickK give you the ability to challenge a group of friends or family and set "stakes" to hold you accountable for your goals. Miss out on your goal and you end up forking over some cash to a friend or charity. Meet your goal and the money is yours to keep. Wouldn't you stop putting off the gym and your clean eating if you knew that you had $100 on the line?
#3 - Join a Supportive Community
There is nothing better than having your own circle of support to help you through your ups and downs. That's why joining a supportive community (on or offline) with others who have similar goals and experiences can be one of the greatest tools to keep your motivation floored at all times. If you ever run into a situation where your focus is off or you're feeling down, talking with other members is enough to give you the courage to keep on keeping on.
Besides the incredible benefits of having a "sounding board" whenever you need it, joining a community gives you the opportunity to reach out and help others, too!
It's Your Time to Shine
Your weight loss journey is going to be filled with a number of highs and an equal amount of lows. No matter what happens, just remember these 3 motivational tips and put them to work. When you do, you will realize how easy it is to stick to your plan and make your goals and dreams become a reality!
Are you ready to learn more about fitness and weight loss? Check out GetFitGetRight.com to discover more incredible fitness, nutrition and weight loss tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Hufford
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