There are a number of different factors to take into account when we determine an individual’s weight loss motivation. Many will want to lose weight just so they look better, others will need to lose weight for health reasons. It could be a simple case of realising how out of shape you might be by simply getting out of breath when playing with your children. It could be wanting to look good for a specific purpose like the beach in the summer or even your wedding. Regardless of what it is, it boils down to the same simple rules when attacking your weight loss goals.
The key thing to remember is that you need to stay positive all the time, and that weight loss is not an overnight success. It is achievable through a sustained period of healthy eating and exercise. One of the ways to make sure you stay motivated throughout is to get into proper habits from the start and go about things the right way.
Although fad diets are appealing for a short term fix, they will leave you unsatisfied and more often than not, overweight in the long run.
A great way to ensure you stay motivated all the way through your weight loss adventure is to set goals. It is very important to follow the SMART principle as this will make sure your goals are achieved and will spur you on further.
So what is the SMART principle when it comes to goal setting? It is a nice little acronym that can be explained as follows:
Specific – Make sure your goals are clearly set out and that they are specific to what you want to achieve.
Measurable- You must be able to measure your goals. It will act as a marker so you will know when you have achieved it and move onto the next one. Vague goals like “I want to lose weight in the next month” are no good. Instead it should be something like “I want to lose a pound in the next 2 weeks”.
Achievable- Making unrealistic goals will mean you never reach them and you will probably end up giving up. By making them achievable, even the little goals will seem like massive victories.
Relevant- The must be relevant for what you are trying to achieve. Completing a marathon is not necessarily a good goal if its weight loss you want to achieve. The two are not mutually exclusive but it is not specifically relevant to your goals.
Time related- Making sure you can measure a goal over a period of time can ensure that you stay motivated. Goals over regular time periods make you aware of whether or not goals are being achieved.
Follow these goal setting principles and weight loss becomes a lot easier.
