One of the most important things you can do is take charge of your health and wellness. Weight loss is a long-term process, and if you want to keep the weight off for years, you must develop the right habits and practice them consistently over time. The challenge is that eating right and exercising for months on end and not seeing immediate gratification results will wear you down.
Many people who are trying to lose weight end up sabotaging their own success just as it is about to pay off. As you progress through your weight loss and fitness journey, you’ll need to find new ways to stay motivated and driven so that you can reach your goal. Here are some ways to do that.
Small Victories
Weight loss and achieving the body of your dreams do not happen overnight; it takes time and you lose weight pound by pound. Small victories should be celebrated because they boost your confidence in yourself and your belief in the hard work you’re putting in. Include smaller milestones along the way so you can reflect on how far you’ve come. Your milestones can be tied to a specific number on the scale or on your waistline, but whatever it is, make a big deal out of it and savor it when you reach it. You put in a lot of effort to get it.
Boats should be burned.
Weight loss is a mental and emotional as well as a physical game. You must decide and commit to staying focused on your goal and never looking back. If you want to keep the weight off in the long run, you must be clear that you will do whatever it takes to keep your results. Why not truly represent that by acting on your commitment? One thing people do is get rid of all the clothes that are now too big for them or don’t look as good on their smaller frames.
You’re essentially burning the bridge and promising yourself that you’ll never return to your old ways. The benefit of this is that it allows you to make room in your closet for new clothes to fit your new shape. You can stock your closet with everything from new jeans and workout clothes to formal dresses and workwear. This will provide you with even more motivation to persevere during difficult days.
Photos of Progress
Weight loss isn’t always obvious, especially in the early stages. When you look in the mirror, you might not notice that you’re losing weight and getting in better shape. If you don’t see those results, you’ll think the program isn’t working and will be more likely to give up and sabotage yourself. Start taking weekly progress photos to nip this in the bud; as you stack them up over time, you can really start to see yourself change. You’ll be motivated to keep working so that the next progress photo demonstrates that your efforts are paying off.
Participate in a Community
When you embark on your weight loss journey alone, it feels much more difficult, and you may feel tempted to give up when things get tough. Fortunately, you can join a community and receive the necessary support and accountability via the internet! Find a place where you can be part of a larger group working towards the same goal, whether it’s on Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, or a Facebook group, and plug into it.
Become Obsessed with the Process
Weight loss is a byproduct of taking care of yourself, and focusing on the right things will yield the desired results. It’s all too easy to spend your time focusing on the results, but this can lead to disappointment. Instead, fall in love with the process of living a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy but tasty food, do workouts that you can maintain in the long run, and actually shift into being a healthy person – that way, you’ll be part of a process you enjoy, and you’ll love the results when they start to happen. When it comes to losing weight and keeping it off, instant gratification is not the way to go. You must be willing to commit to a long-term process of changing your habits, becoming more active, and eating the right foods. You may start to lose motivation emotionally and mentally, but if you implement these measures, you will be able to keep going in the long run.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider if you have any questions about a medical condition.
