How to Stay Motivated When Losing Weight

Anyone who has tried to lose weight knows the feeling, the excitement of starting a new diet or a new revolutionary exercise program. The promise of changing your weight and reaching the goals you want. It's a great feeling, and while you're floating on that feeling, the diet is a breeze, getting to the gym something you look forward too, you are eager to check your progress and to stick with the program, if anything you want to do a little more than what you need, to really get back into the shape you want.

If staying on a diet was as easy as starting one, no one would need to lose weight, but in real life, no matter what your plan for losing weight is, the day is going to come when you just don't feel like going to the gym, or go for a run, or you're sick and tiered of never getting to eat any carbs. For many of us, we can still barrel through for a while on willpower, but once the motivation and excitement is gone it is very, very difficult to stick with your plans. In most cases, when the motivation dwindles, the fight is already lost. Before you think twice about it, you've told yourself that you've earned a day off from the exercise you should do, or maybe you talk yourself into getting off the diet, just for this party coming up, or just for the weekend. Pretty soon, these days off become the regular routine, and your grand plan of change has ended up as no real change at all.

This pattern can repeat itself in cycles that not only will make it easier and easier to gain weight, but they are also devastating to the self esteem which is the last thing you need when trying to lose weight. It's difficult to stay out of these cycles as long as your weight loss plan relies on your initial motivation and nothing else. It is very tempting to fall back into old habits if losing weight seems like a punishment you're putting yourself through. The secret to avoiding slipping into this very common pattern is to keep re-motivating yourself every single day, until it becomes second nature, and the changes you have made to lose weight becomes natural and enjoyable.

This is all well and good, but staying motivated is easier said than done, to help you keep focus and make losing weight easier, here are some motivational tips that could help you stick with a diet or exercise program.

1. Set realistic short term goals

If you tell yourself your goal is to lose too much weight or get down to the size you wore when you were in school, it's easy to get de-motivated. Depending on your starting point, these ultimate goals can be several years in the future, and even if you make great progress, it will be de motivating to know that you're still 17 months away from your goal. Instead, make your gaols realistic and short term, for example, "I am going to exercise at lest 30 minutes every weekday for two weeks", this kind of goals are easy to look forward too. If you need more motivation, always reward yourself when you reach a goal, but make the reward compatible with your weight loss plan. For example, buying yourself new work out clothes is a great reward, but getting yourself a cake might not be what you want to do. Also, make sure to let your friends and family know when you've reached a goal, and bask in the praise they will undoubtedly shower over you.

2. Get a work out buddy

If you are exercising to lose weight, it's a lot harder to skip a trip to the gym or your 2 mile run if you have someone else who are relying on you to go with them. It's a lot easier to stand up yourself than a friend. An added benefit is that it's a lot more fun to work out with somebody no matter what you do for exercise. If it's your kind of thing, your workout buddy and you could even engage in some friendly weight loss competition to spur each other on to stick with your plan.

3. Variation

Everything gets boring if you do it too much. This applies to exercise and diets, as well as most other things in life, the antidote against boredom is variation. For your exercise program, don't just sign up at a gym and pledge to go there religiously every other day until you have reach your weigh loss goal. Instead, make a schedule with as many an varied activities as you can come up with, take the dog for a walk, take a yoga class, run, do your yard work, go to the gym, anything you can think of that will keep you moving and exercising. And when you have a nice long list of activities, always complement the list with new ways to work out.

If you are dieting, always get as much information as you can about your diet and what principles that are based on. That way it will be easier for you to recognize what foods or snacks you can and can not eat and how much of it, without having to rely on a set list of ingredients given for the diet. For example, if your diet says hazelnuts are good on your diet, find out why, and see if there are other nuts or foods that can provide the same benefits. This will allow you to be a lot more creative with the meals and snacks you can make and eat, which will make it easier to stay on your diet.

Another important way to stay motivated on a diet is to get as many recipes for your diet as you can get a hold. It's easy enough to fall into a menu rut with a completely unrestricted diet, but when you have to stick to strict dieting rules, it's even easier to end up eating just a few different meals over and over because you know they are good on your diet. This becomes boring very fast and makes it more difficult to stick with your diet plan. Instead, try going outside the meals you usually eat, cooking with new ingredients and different cooking methods. With some practice and knowledge, cooking can be a very creative activity, and that in it self can be a motivating factor in staying with a diet plan.

4. Having fun

If trying to be more active, and get more exercise, it's going to be a lot easier to stay motivated if you make exercising as fun as possible. For many, playing a team sport like basketball or soccer is a lot more fun then running on your own, look for a local pick up league, or ask at your local gym for teams you can join. Dancing is great exercise, and also lot's of fun. Challenging your kids to a last man standing wrestling tournament will be great fun for everyone, and a good workout for you. Recently, there are even games and videogames released that aim to entertain as well as exercise which could be a good way to add more fun while still getting your exercise.

5. Mental focus

Be conscious of how motivated you are, and confirm your commitment to lose weight to yourself every day. Even if you're super motivated, it's good to keep mental focus on how you are relating to your weight loss program. Go over your goals every day, track your progress towards your short term goals, and take pride in the progress you make, and equally important, forgive yourself of minor lapses and look forward. By recommitting yourself to your goals every day, you'll find it a lot easier to keep your motivation up, and it is also easier to recognize early if you are starting to lose your motivation and you can change up your routine in time to keep it fresh and fun.

These tips will make it easier to stick with the changes you have committed to. Keeping motivated is a daily challenge, and the most important factor you need to conquer on your way to a healthier lifestyle.