Motivation to lose weight is easy to define. It is the desire to lose weight and the will to change your eating habits and lifestyle. However, motivation to lose weight can be difficult to maintain over the long term. It takes discipline, commitment and a certain amount of motivation in order for you to lose the weight you want to lose. But it is entirely possible to have the motivation to lose weight and a long term strategy to make it happen.
Simply put, there are two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation comes from within you, from your true values and attitude about weight loss. For instance, if your doctor tells you that you have to lose weight for your health, you might be extrinsically motivated by fear of failing healthily. Intrinsic motivation should lead to long-term weight loss goals.
On the other hand, extrinsic motivation can come from outside the self, from friends and family who may have been successful in losing weight themselves and who may want to encourage you to try harder. Intrinsic motivation will lead to short-term goals and will likely not be sustainable over the long term. It will provide short-term relief and you will likely fail at your long-term goals because you did not prepare for your journey. Your journey to weight loss success may become part of your identity and you might continue to use your motivation as a crutch.
There are times when you cannot get motivated enough to follow your own plan to shed the pounds. Sometimes people feel like they have to have a diet, and sometimes they just do not have the willpower to resist the temptation of a cheeseburger. These people need help in both cases. If you have health problems or if you simply do not want to put forth the effort to make your own healthy dietary changes, consider getting some professional coaching. Consider joining a support group or signing up for an online forum where you can connect with others who have similar goals as you. Sometimes all it takes is a little extra motivation to get you started on your weight loss journey.
Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation can be negative. Intrinsic motivation comes from within and is usually fueled by reward. Extrinsic motivation comes from the world around you and is often spurred by failure. It is usually an ongoing, supplemental source of motivation. Both types of motivation can be effective when used correctly and when used with caution.
When you use extrinsic motivation to get started, you should be very clear about what your goal is. Be specific about when you will achieve your goal, how long it will take, what you will eat on a daily basis that will help you reach your goal, and what will you not eat and why. The research suggests that the best time to use extrinsic motivation to start a diet is just as the end of summer - the last time you were really motivated to get started!
When you are using intrinsic motivation to get started on your weight loss journey, be sure to set realistic goals and plan to achieve them. Set smaller goals today so that you will feel more like you are making progress. Set larger goals that seem much easier than they actually are. The research suggests that the best time to use intrinsic motivation to lose weight is as soon as you get started!
Lastly, remember that it takes time to change your body. You should not expect to lose a lot of weight overnight. You may experience some feelings of frustration as you try to stay on track. You can overcome these feelings if you remain persistent and you stay focused on your weight loss goals.
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