If you're like most people who have tried to shed extra body fat, you've no doubt experienced the frustration that can accompany that effort. Getting your body into better shape is certainly no easy task. In fact, millions of people each year start diet and exercise regimens only to abandon the struggle after only a few weeks or months. The key to avoiding that failure is to understand a few basic tips for motivating weight loss success.
The most critical advice is to set realistic expectations. Chances are that it took you months or even years of poor decisions to get out of shape. Knowing that, why would you think you could get back into shape in just a few weeks? Set more modest and attainable goals. For most people, the goal should be to lose one or two pounds per week.
Another key is to incorporate your favorite foods into any dietary plan. If you try to deprive yourself of those things, you will fail. It is the rare person who has the willpower to see his favorites and refuse them day after day. Recognize that it is the amount you eat that makes you fat, not the food itself. With that in mind, treat yourself on occasion.
Calories cannot be ignored, since they are key to losing excess pounds. Track them, log them in a book, and record every meal and all exercise that you do. You can's modify your strategy if you don't know what you're doing, so be sure to compile that data. Later, you can gain inspiration from reviewing just how well you've done.
Look for positive messages and skip the negativity. Many overweight people spend so much time being critical of themselves that they actually invite failure. After listening to their own inner voices criticize their many failures, most just lose hope and settle back into their own ways. Motivate yourself with positive self-talk and find friends and family members who will offer similar encouragement.
Learning to cook can be an extremely motivating process. It will help you to control ingredients and portion size, while teaching you the essentials of healthy eating habits. As you progress, you'll also develop the skills needed to create a variety of meals, so that you avoid the bland habit of eating the same things day in and day out.
Finally, never allow failure to get the best of you. Almost every dieter fails at least once in his or her efforts to get back into shape. Many simply give up and return to their old habits, gaining even more extra pounds and confirming their worst fears about themselves. When you fail and find yourself cheating on your dietary plan or skipping exercise, pick yourself up and start again.
Losing those extra pounds can be a struggle of epic proportions. By following these six motivational tips, however, you can ensure that you remain motivated to see the struggle through to a successful conclusion. The end result will be more than worth the effort you make.
The most critical advice is to set realistic expectations. Chances are that it took you months or even years of poor decisions to get out of shape. Knowing that, why would you think you could get back into shape in just a few weeks? Set more modest and attainable goals. For most people, the goal should be to lose one or two pounds per week.
Another key is to incorporate your favorite foods into any dietary plan. If you try to deprive yourself of those things, you will fail. It is the rare person who has the willpower to see his favorites and refuse them day after day. Recognize that it is the amount you eat that makes you fat, not the food itself. With that in mind, treat yourself on occasion.
Calories cannot be ignored, since they are key to losing excess pounds. Track them, log them in a book, and record every meal and all exercise that you do. You can's modify your strategy if you don't know what you're doing, so be sure to compile that data. Later, you can gain inspiration from reviewing just how well you've done.
Look for positive messages and skip the negativity. Many overweight people spend so much time being critical of themselves that they actually invite failure. After listening to their own inner voices criticize their many failures, most just lose hope and settle back into their own ways. Motivate yourself with positive self-talk and find friends and family members who will offer similar encouragement.
Learning to cook can be an extremely motivating process. It will help you to control ingredients and portion size, while teaching you the essentials of healthy eating habits. As you progress, you'll also develop the skills needed to create a variety of meals, so that you avoid the bland habit of eating the same things day in and day out.
Finally, never allow failure to get the best of you. Almost every dieter fails at least once in his or her efforts to get back into shape. Many simply give up and return to their old habits, gaining even more extra pounds and confirming their worst fears about themselves. When you fail and find yourself cheating on your dietary plan or skipping exercise, pick yourself up and start again.
Losing those extra pounds can be a struggle of epic proportions. By following these six motivational tips, however, you can ensure that you remain motivated to see the struggle through to a successful conclusion. The end result will be more than worth the effort you make.
