Motivation to lose weight is one of the biggest hurdles that people who are serious about losing weight face. The problem, however, is that there's a growing body of science showing that many of these gimmicky, no-risk, quick-fix techniques aren't only ineffective but WORLD weight loss schemes as well. So here we've chosen the six most widely promoted motivational techniques advocated by top weight loss gurus as well as how they operate if they do work. Armed with this information, you'll know what to do when motivation to lose weight flops. And what NOT to do...
Intrinsic motivation is based on feeling motivated to achieve something. And achieving something is very easy if you're already in a positive frame of mind. Research has shown that if you are already mentally geared towards a goal you are more likely to achieve it. And if you're already physically motivated, then again, you will achieve it more easily. So how can you achieve motivation to lose weight with both your body and mind?
Set clear, achievable, short-term goals. These are big goals that you can actually achieve. They don't have to be huge - even losing five pounds a week is a big step. Setting clear, achievable, short-term goals makes it much easier to achieve them when motivation to diet first fails.
Find great role models. If you're feeling less inclined to go into the gym because you're embarrassed, try chatting to your friends or family about your weight loss journey. You may be surprised to discover that they are as motivated as you are. Or, even more surprising, that they have already succeeded. Find role models in your community. Look for local support groups, sports teams, charity organisations and schools.
Be a pessimist. You may think that dieting will not work because you are obese. But this is one of the strongest forms of motivation to lose weight. Not only is the thought that you will not achieve your goals depressing, it is also potentially dangerous - especially if you continue to eat too much, which increases the likelihood of gaining more weight than you need to lose. Watch out for doublethink: people who tell you that dieting is not possible because you are overweight.
Be an externalist. You might think that dieting is an internal problem. That you are the one controlling your intake of calories and therefore, you cannot control how you eat. Or, you might point out that eating less will make you feel deprived and this makes you susceptible to eating more, which leads to over-eating and more weight-loss failure. To beat the internal dilemma about dieting and lose weight, be an externalist, be the one who will support you through your diet, be the one who will motivate you through the process, and be the one who will let you know when you are not being realistic with your expectations.
Be motivated by something bigger than yourself. You may have tried so hard in the past to reach your goals but now you are convinced that you just will not be successful. The real motivation to lose weight is your health and the health of those around you. You can start with this kind of motivation and go from there.
So what is really the secret of weight loss success? Are the reasons I've mentioned here the only ones that help you to keep going? Maybe there is another motivation that could help you achieve the goal faster and stay motivated even when things look really hard. Finding the extrinsic motivation to lose weight may be just the thing you need to make the whole process exciting, but if you are still losing hope, then it's probably time for you to find the intrinsic motivation to keep you going!
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