Motivation Factors Are Key For Weight Loss

We all have different motivation factors for losing weight - some are through necessity, for medical reasons, others less than life threatening. Whatever our reasons, keeping the motivation alive is what gets you to your goal - big or small.

For those who have lots of weight to lose the task can often seem daunting. But that same dread can be felt by those who just need to lose 'the last 10 pounds' but never seem able to. So what motivation factors can you use to push you from trying to succeeding?

Visualization
Seeing in your mind's eye what you want to be is the number one motivation factor for weight loss. If you can't imagine yourself on a thinner body simply get a magazine and cut out a body like the one you wish to have, and cut out your face from a photo and put the two together. If you are able to you can even use Photoshop to put your head on a new body. Print out the NEW YOU and put it where you will see it a lot. A very good place to put it would be on the refrigerator door. Seeing that image over and over will keep you motivated, but on a deeper, more subliminal level, you will begin to change enabling you to become more like your vision.

An Action Plan
However few pounds you want to lose you will be more successful if you plan your goals. Setting goals is a vital motivation factor as each time you accomplish one your motivation is boosted. So set attainable goals. By creating small goals you will avoid disappointment and discouragement. For example, if you set a weight loss goal of twenty pounds in a one-month period and you are only exercising once a week, it is unrealistic to believe that you will accomplish such a daunting task.

Reward yourself each time you reach a milestone - buy a new dress or bathing suit. It doesn’t matter if these fit now or not. The purchase will be a catalyst to get you to lose the weight so you can fit into them sooner than later.

Have a positive attitude. The attitude you develop over the course of your weight loss and exercise program will help you to push yourself. You must believe in yourself, that you can get it done. If you continue with your program and your desire to succeed, you will eventually reach your goals.

Track Your Success
Make sure that you keep track of your progress; not necessarily going on the scale everyday, but your workouts, emotional state and nutrition are key elements that need to be put under the microscope for a while until your new lifestyle has become automatic. Tracking will help you to decide whether what you are doing is working, and if not, why not.

Great sites to help you stay motivated are sparkpeople.com and traineo.com. Both have great communities and are sites where you can track your workouts [and more].