Motivated While Losing Weight:

• How many times have you started your weight loss plan only to find yourself two weeks in and having fallen off the wagon? Don’t worry—you’re not alone!
• Maintaining motivation can be one of the most difficult parts of losing weight, especially when you’re trying to do it all on your own.
• Here are 10 ways to stay motivated while losing weight so that you don’t give up before you start seeing results!

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1) Invest in new clothes

By Staying Motivated While Losing Weight you might feel like you’re cheating on your diet when you first see yourself in your new, smaller clothes.

If a smaller dress or pair of pants makes you feel guilty at first, remind yourself that they don’t have any negative effects on your body and are merely clothing.

Focus on how awesome it will be to fit into smaller clothing or swimsuits once you reach your weight-loss goal! Wanting to fit into smaller clothes is a great reason to stay motivated; remember, it’s all about mindset.

The more confident and excited you feel about reaching a specific goal (like fitting into an outfit), the more likely you are to actually do so!

2) Start a weight-loss journal

By Staying Motivated While Losing Weight writing down your goals and thoughts can be extremely motivational.

It helps you reflect on what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and how far you’ve come.

Studies have shown that when people write about their goals, they feel more committed to them—and more likely to follow through on them.

Try journaling every day for just a few minutes in order to develop good habits that will stick with you for life.

3) Avoid comparison

Comparing yourself with others can be a quick way to get down on yourself and feel discouraged about your own progress.

Why compare? After all, we are all different, with our own strengths and weaknesses. You don’t need to beat anyone else in order to succeed, you only need achieve your own goals.

If you’re feeling like you’re lacking in motivation, look inward before looking outward. Identify what is motivating you and use that motivation as your source of strength when your energy starts fading.

Remember why it’s important for you to make positive changes in your life; remind yourself that doing so will have benefits not just for you but also for those around you.

4) Get moving

Exercise is one of your best weapons for burning calories and boosting metabolism. If you’re trying to lose weight, think about doing at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.

In fact, according to a study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, even if you don’t change anything else about your diet or physical activity level, by upping your activity by just three days a week (to more than 175 minutes per week), you could also shed up to 16 pounds over two years.

And don’t forget that muscle burns more calories than fat does while sitting around doing nothing.

5) Exercise outdoors

In addition to getting your sweat on, research shows that exercising in natural environments has a ton of mental health benefits.

When people are around green space they feel more relaxed, says Dr. Ray Levy, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Essex in England.

So rather than sitting at home and watching television or surfing social media—both proven stressors—get outside for some fresh air or take a walk during your lunch break.

Not only will you reduce stress levels and increase feelings of happiness and well-being, but you’ll also be burning calories and losing weight (and maybe even building muscle). Talk about a win-win!

6) Don’t put too much pressure on yourself

Taking weight loss too seriously can sometimes lead to burnout, but we’re all human. If you slip up or feel like giving up, don’t be so hard on yourself that you stop following through with your goals.

Instead, acknowledge your mistake and get back on track as soon as possible. That’s what it means to fail forward.

Don’t forget that while goals are meant to be reached, they aren’t meant to be kept forever. In fact, a famous quote by Dr.

7) Enjoy being healthy

Don’t wait until you have a ton of weight to lose before you decide being healthy is important. If you start small, it will be easier and more enjoyable for you.

For example, every day take an extra walk around your neighborhood or get up one minute earlier than usual. Add small steps like these into your daily routine and gradually increase their frequency as time goes on.

Not only will these activities give you a little boost throughout your day, but they’ll also be making it easier for you to achieve greater goals later on down the road. Get started today! What can happen in 5 years if you don’t put in even just 30 minutes a day?

8) Celebrate small wins

Small wins matter, but they can be tough to find sometimes. If you’re struggling with weight loss motivation, look for these little milestones along your journey and celebrate them.

Think about how far you’ve come instead of focusing on what’s left to do. Small things such as fitting into smaller jeans or buying new clothes will help keep you motivated and make changes more manageable—and more enjoyable!

9) Set daily goals

Each day, you should have a set of goals to accomplish. This could be based off your weight loss plan, but it can also be things like exercising for 15 minutes, logging food, or setting up a meal plan for your week.

These daily goals will keep you motivated when you don’t feel like going to workout or recording what you ate that day.

Additionally, setting short-term weekly and monthly goals will help you create a schedule that makes sense and keeps you from getting overwhelmed by looking at everything all at once.

For example, instead of saying I want to lose 10 pounds in one month, say I want to lose 1 pound each week for 4 weeks. These little steps will add up over time!

10) Reward yourself when you reach your goals

Research shows that rewarding yourself with a treat when you meet your goals can help motivate you in all areas of life, not just weight loss.

I’m willing to bet your favorite treat isn’t diet food. That’s why it’s important to choose rewards that will truly make you happy.

For example, many dieters reward themselves with new clothes when they reach their goal weight. If you want new clothes, make sure they are ones that fit into your lifestyle and are something you actually wear—don’t buy them for a once-in-awhile special occasion.