How to keep you motivated on your weight loss journey; 7 tips to help you get there.

Do you find that you start off with a weight loss regime with amazing willpower and the “I can do this” attitude!

Then a few weeks into it, you feel yourself slipping a bit, then another bit and by week 4 you are struggling to hang on?

Well you are not alone.  Did you know that 97 percent of dieters regain everything they lose and then some, within three years? So let’s take a look at what we can do to stay motivated and get healthy without gaining the weight back.

1. Take a good look at your WHY. Why do you want to lose weight? Is it because of health reasons, is it for someone  or is it for yourself? Try to really clarify your reason, write it down and remember it is about you .We do not lose weight for anyone else but ourselves. If it is a medical reason that should give you more incentive.
2. Be realistic. Are you goals big and mighty?? Make sure you set realistic goals for yourself. Do not think long term .”I will lose 30lbs”, as it is such a far away huge goal that often it intimidates us and sets us back.This can make us surely lose our motivation to keep moving forward. Make sure you have small bite size goals and reward yourself with a manicure , a new top or a movie rather than food.
3. Are you depriving yourself? Are you a chocoholic? Do you know that you cannot live without the saltiness and the crunch of potato chips? If you cut them out of your diet altogether there will come a time when you will eat one and then not be able to stop. So allow yourself a weekly treat if you feel like it. A treat that you can eat without associating guilt with it.  A treat that you will eat, savour enjoy and move on. If you know however that you cannot eat one without eating the entire bag then do not even start. Start looking for healthier alternatives to satisfy your crunch or sweet cravings.
4. Keep a journal so you are able to write down the food you eat daily . You will be surprised how we think we have not eaten all day and yet when we see what we have eaten it all adds up and this can explain sometimes why we are not losing and that in itself is great motivation. A journal for your emotions is also great. That way you can figure out your trigger foods and find another way to help yourself.
5. Find support and accountability. Get a friend to join you in your journey, join a FB group. This will be a huge help when you start to lose your motivation. Being accountable to someone will help you stay on track. Even joining a gym the exercise is most certainly beneficial to you and also a great way to stay on track. When you exercise regularly you stay motivated to eat well. 
6. Plan ahead, when you know you are going out to eat check  the menu before if it is a restaurant and do not be afraid to ask for grilled instead of fried or no bread basket.  When holiday times roll around just relax and plan ahead. If you know you are going out for dinner that night, have a lighter lunch and breakfast and skip the snacks.Keep motivated by reminding yourself why you are on the journey.
7. Lastly be kind to yourself. You will slip up that is normal, but remember you are creating a lifestyle change. No diet, so remove that word! You are creating new healthy eating habits which will change your lifestyle and this takes time. Losing an average of half to one pound a week might seem slow and small but it accumulates and that is over 20 pounds over six months. You have a much better chance of keeping the weight off and keeping motivated to do so.

What holds you back and is a obstacle in your motivation? I would love to hear your story. Click on the link below to share.

Exercise is a great way to stay on track.