Weight Loss Motivation

With weight loss you should make a big goal, getting to your ideal weight. Also make smaller goals to help keep you motivated along the way.

Your small goals do not always have to be in terms of weight lost. You could use clothing size or body fat percentage for your smaller goals.

Just make your goal realistic. For instance, if you need to lose 50 pounds, don’t expect to do this in just a few months. There is no bigger enemy to motivation than an unrealistic goal.

Start your own weight loss journal to keep track of what you eat, when you exercise and your thoughts for the day. Look back on your journal to make adjustments to your meal plan, exercise plan or your goals.

Find a Diet Buddy

Support is a great weight loss motivation technique. Surrounding yourself with people you care about and who care about you will help you to stay motivated.

Tell your family and friends about wanting to lose weight. They will be your best weight loss motivation.

Make sure your group is supportive and not drill instructors. You want their support not their disappointment.

If you and your significant other are dieting together, then read this article on weight loss for men versus women first.

Read this article as well on the different types of support groups you can find online and offline.

Reward Yourself Along the Way

This third weight loss motivation tip is my favorite as I get to treat myself to new things. It's amazing how this keeps me going.

Take a look at your small goals and each time you reach one of those goals, reward yourself. Don’t necessarily do this with food, but rather something fun.

Go to the movies or a night out with your friends. Give yourself a present and buy something new. It can be clothes, shoes, something for your desk or anything that you want. Celebrate in your success. I use this weight loss motivation each time I reach one of my mini goals.

Don't Feel Guilty

Staying on track is difficult especially when the unexpected happens. So don’t feel guilty if you had a piece of cake at the wedding reception.

If you had to grab a greasy cheeseburger for lunch because you forgot to pack your healthy meal, don't beat yourself up.

Things happen. Just forget about it, move on and get back on track with your weight loss motivation. Just don’t let these little slips become a habit.

List Reasons for Wanting to Lose Weight

Another great weight loss motivation is a check list of why you want to lose those extra pounds. Write these reasons down and refer to it when you feel yourself losing motivation.

The reasons can be as simple as fitting into that special dress. Or perhaps you want to be able to zip up those favorite pair of jeans. It doesn't have to be about clothes. Your reasons could be health related.

Whatever your reasons are, write them down.  Then when you feel a lack of weight loss motivation, re-read your notes and refresh your memory as to why you want to lose weight.

Use your printable weight loss journal to jot down new reasons for losing weight as you think of them.

Track Your Progress

Track your progress to keep your weight loss motivation going. You can use a simple piece of paper for tracking daily, weekly and even monthly. If you want to get a bit fancier in your tracking, try this calorie intake chart. You can record foods, calories and track your exercises. It also has a weight tracker complete with charts so you can easily see your progress.

Seeing your success written down is a great motivator. If you start to see your progress headed in the wrong direction, adjust your routine.

Add some more exercise or take a look at how many calories you are consuming.  As you exercise and lose weight, your calorie intake for weight loss is changing.  Make sure you are adjusting accordingly.