Have you ever spent some time trying to find out why you want to lose weight?
Having a clear reason and motivation helps you to achieve your goal. In fact this is applicable to anything you want to achieve in your life.
Do not just start following a weight loss plan because your friends are trying to lose weight or someone has asked you to lose weight. You should do it for yourself.
Before you come up with a strong motivation, ask yourself these 2 questions:
1. What would happen if I lost weight?
Some of the answers could be..
- Well, I will feel more confident.
- My self-esteem will improve.
- I could be more mobile and do the activity I want do.
- I could wear a new dress or bikini.
- I could play with my children or grandchildren.
- My health could improve significantly.
- My type 2 diabetes may resolve.
- I may find a new partner.
- I may be able wear my wedding dress.
- I may be fit to have a planned surgery.
- My fertility will improve and may conceive.
- And many, many, many more……….
2. What could happen if I gained weight?
Some of the answers could be..
- I may not be confident enough to wear a certain dress or go out.
- I may not be fit enough to go on a holiday.
- I may not be confident to socialise.
- I may not be fit to travel.
- I may struggle to play with children.
- I may not be fit to get pregnant.
- I may not be fit for a planned surgery.
- I may feel weight is the reason for not getting a partner.
- I may not get a job.
- I may develop medical conditions like diabetes, heart attack, stroke or cancer.
- So, you need to have a strong motivation and a very good reason to lose weight.
Always have – short-term, mid-term and long-term motivation to lose weight. This helps you sustain weight loss and keep you going.
Short term motivation for some could include:
- Walking in the nearby park.
- Going to a restaurant.
- Walking one mile.
- Getting into the swimming pool.
- Talking to neighbours .
Some of the mid-term motivations could be:
- Go on a short holiday.
- Climb a hill.
- Go cycling for 2 miles.
- Attend a party.
Long-term ones could be:
- Run a marathon.
- Get a partner.
- Have a baby.
- Reverse diabetes.
- Reduce medications for blood pressure.
- Get fit for a holiday of a lifetime.
Once you have decided on a short term, midterm and long-term reason for losing weight, break this down into smaller goals and keep working on it. So, whilst trying to lose weight, continue working on your non-weight related goals.
Let us say you want to lose weight to get a partner. This is your motivation to lose weight. So, break this motivation down to several milestones. The first one would be to start going out and start meeting more people. In order to do that, you need to allot time and ensure you have freed up your time. The next step would be to ensure you have arranged your travel. Once you have done those, you need to ensure you are well dressed, which is appropriate for that venue and event. You need to start getting out of your comfort zone and talk to people and hold conversations with different people. It is important you go out several times and meet more people and you will come across the person you like and you take it up from there.
So, in the above scenario, there were a number of non-weight related goals.
Non-weight related goals include:
- Going out
- Meeting people
- Talking to more people and planning to go the next time.
These goals have nothing to do with weight. You need to kick start these processes at the same time as you begin with your weight loss journey. You need to keep working on them irrespective of your weight. The reason I say this is that a number of people lose weight based on the number on the scale but cannot do anything or they are not confident. The whole purpose of losing weight is defeated.
You need to work on both fronts: Weight and non-weight
Can you see, this was just an example. There are so many steps to get a partner. So, if you have started to go out, you have succeeded in the first step. If you are talking to more people you have crossed the next barrier. So, even if you have not yet found a partner you are constantly improving and you need to appreciate how you are moving closer to the goal and succeeding. Whilst you see yourself succeeding in your non-weight related goal, your weight comes off faster. Do not be fixated on the number on the scale. So, whilst working on your weight loss, you are also working on the reason why you want to lose weight. Body weight does not drop off in a straight line. There are always ups and downs. Always look back and see the progress you have made. Do not look at the previous day.
So, if you want to lose weight and keep it off:
- Have several short, midterm and long-term goals for why you want to lose weight.
- Find out what you would do when you have lost weight.
- Start working on the non-weight and weight related milestones at the same time.
- Do not put off going out until you have lost some weight.
- Do something which you have not done and would like to do.
Start now, open your front door and get out into the street!
Visualise your weight and non-weight related goals. Most importantly do it for yourself.
