A common scenario for those who want to lose weight is to start an exercise routine and choose healthful foods for the first week driven by motivation. The second week comes, and their motivation also begins to decrease. The exercise routine is now ditched and a couple more days and they are not paying too much attention to what they are eating. On the third week, they are back to their old habits and their weight loss goals are ignored once again and forgotten. It is so common to go back to our old habits and ignore the new habits we just established.
It is still possible to get your motivation back if you will practice these 5 steps to stay driven with your life’s goals.
1. Write Your Vision
Writing a vision is necessary for the success of your goals and it is crucial to succeed in your weight loss plan. Keep in mind that your vision is what you are working towards and how you see your life. Why have you decided to lose weight? Always go beyond “I want to lose 15 pounds” or “I want to fit into a size 8”. Go a bit deeper by considering what weight loss will eventually bring you. For most people, this will mean an increased energy and better health. It will also mean that you can participate in certain activities that you have been longing to do like running a marathon, go trekking, or backpacking. When you start to slip out of your old habits, ask yourself, “Are the choices I am making gets me closer to my goals?”
2. Establish Goals Each Week
To keep you stay on track, set specific goals each week. At the beginning of each week, map out some simple goals that you can set for yourself. You do not have to create huge goals that may not just be unachievable as the days pass by. Start with simple goals first. For instance, you could limit eating ice-cream to 1 time per week or limit eating junk food. Such goals will help you stay focused as you change your own lifestyle. Make sure that you will be able to see these reminders every day to stay motivated.
3. Schedule Your Exercise Routine
Those who embark on a new fitness program, often exercise whenever the time permits them. This is a sure-fire way to slip out of the habit. This is because, it will just be easy to let other things in life become a priority if there is no set schedule. If possible, schedule your exercise routine at the same time each week. For example, you can schedule your weekly walk every Monday through Thursday at 5:00 pm to establish a routine. This will become easier once you get used to it.
4. Create a Support System
Having someone to support you as you walk at the park, carry those heavy weights with you, or attend group meetings will help you stay motivated. Professional services, such as a registered dietitian, personal trainer, or life coach can help provide sound advice and strategies to allow you to reach your goals. You can build your support system around each topic like nutrition, fitness and self-discovery. You can even sign up for some free e-newsletters or join a weight loss forum to meet other people who also have the same goals as yours.
5. Have a Backup Plan
When all else fails and you still go back to your old habits, make sure that you have a backup plan. Create a list of 3 minimum steps that you can take daily. This should be completely easy and doable and should still stay towards your weight loss goals. This could be a fruit or vegetable with each meal, going for a 10 minute walk, lifting hand weights for 10 minutes, and so on. Then, when things start to derail, you can start doing your backup plan. Your backup plan is your next step to keep your motivation running and following these 3 minimum steps should be used when things are not going well so you can still stay somewhat on track.
