Weight Loss Pursuits: Why We Choose to Lose and Why We Often Fail

"I really need to do something about this" is a common phrase to those of us with more than a pound to lose. We could be getting dressed for the day and catch a glimpse in a nearby mirror. It could be that the doctor requires you to step on that scale, ugh! Possibly, it's the realization that your twenty year reunion is really sneaking up on you! It's those moments that we are in a mad rush to lose all of it in an instant. We've done it all before. So what this time? Cabbage soup, liquid diet, or a regime of constant time on the treadmill, which shall it be? Whoa Nelly! Maybe it's time to think about it rationally. Yep, slow down, put away that miracle bottle of slimness and think! The same actions produce the same results, it's a scientific fact. Let's ponder why it is the time to change.

Health - The doctor has told you that you must lose this weight because you are at risk of ________. We've heard this one, Diabetes, Heart Disease, even Cancer, did that get us moving? A big motivator is when a loved one has been diagnosed with a major health scare or worse.

Mobility - You are having a harder time getting up off the couch or keeping up with your kids. A lot of the times, this is a great motivator. Are we willing to get up? Sometimes we use weight as an excuse or barrier for not doing the things we want to do. If you want it, do it already! I kayak and have yet to sink!

Beauty - This one works for the quick start. We are all vane. It might be we want to fit into those jeans, impress that certain someone or just plain and simple to look "HOT". It happens to be pretty motivating when you can see differences in your appearance!

Looking at these three major motivators we can get started. We may start for vanity reasons but, health and mobility will be affected by our efforts also. So why have we failed in the past?

Too Strict - Sometimes we set too many guidelines and feel we have failed if we veer off course once. Be realistic, if you say I will never eat chocolate, what are you going to dive into? Allow yourself small indulgences. One day a week have a goody and be a diehard the rest of the week. Learn to gift yourself in other ways than food.

Too Much - One will get burnt out on a routine of constant workouts. Varying what the workouts are can help or doing non conventional exercise. (Meaning = something that is enjoyable and not generally done at the athletic club. Hint: go outside!) Start out slow, in pace, duration and quantity. You can work up to more. The all or nothing attitude can really defeat us.

Not Ready - If you are working on losing weight for anything or person than yourself, you are set up to fail. You are the person making the changes. So, wait until you want to make the changes. That other person may not always be there, and that special occasion will come and go, then what?

So, for those of us who have found our motivator(s), and have set healthy parameters, good luck! You'll be so proud and healthy when you reach those goals, whatever they are!