Six Pieces Of Advice For Successfully Motivating Weight Loss

By Leslie Ball


You probably already realize just how frustrating it can be to try to shed unwanted pounds and build a healthier body. There are so many factors involved that it can be one of the toughest challenges around. If it were easy, then we wouldn't have millions who try and fail to drop those pounds every year. To succeed in your own efforts, you need to consider several key pieces of advice for motivating weight loss.

The first key is to have expectations that you can really meet. You didn't gain all those extra pounds overnight, and they're not going away that quickly either. You have to make smaller, measurable goals that you can achieve consistently. Most dieters find that they can only safely lose a couple pounds a week at most.

Deprivation kills dieting. Learn that fact and avoid it all costs. You didn't get out of shape just because you enjoy a piece of cake every now and again. You gained the fat because you ate too much of almost everything, and did so regularly. If you try to deny yourself all the foods you love, you will eventually fail. With that in mind, be prepared to give yourself those treats on a regular basis.

Calories are king, so count and record them daily. If you don't, you'll have no way of knowing what works. Maintain a journal that records meals, calories, exercise, and even your emotions. That data will be useful as you adjust your plan, and can prove to be extremely motivation when you look back on your progress and commitment.

Accentuate the positive, while avoiding negatives. It is tempting to be down on yourself over your fat, but that accomplishes nothing. Many dieters who constantly criticize themselves simply give up and resume bad habits. Remain focused, think about how good you'll look and feel when the process is done, and surround yourself with others who will focus on those same things.

Cook for yourself as often as you can. Believe it or not, learning to prepare your own meals is one of the easiest ways to develop good eating habits. You'll have more control over what is going into your body, and you'll also develop better insight into how different foods go together to create healthy meals. As you gain expertise, you'll find yourself more motivated than ever.

The last key is the most critical: failure is not an option. Make that your mantra, as you remember that everyone fails at some point in his or her dieting efforts. Most go back to overeating, and many put on even more excess pounds. If you break your diet, just forgive yourself and resume where you left off right away. Stay the course, and you will get to your destination.

The fact is that this type of commitment to losing those extra pounds requires a remarkable commitment of will. With these six keys to success, you can overcome the obstacles and persevere until you realize your dreams. In the end, you'll find the reward more than justifies the commitment you made, as you enjoy the new and improved body you worked so hard to obtain.




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