Motivation to Lose Weight and Stick With it Through the Motivation Process

Motivation to lose weight has been the subject of intense research for many years. The first part of the motivation to lose weight question, however, is not what you should strive for in terms of losing weight. Rather, it is what you can do to prevent yourself from becoming overweight and to keep the motivation to lose weight ongoing. Let's take a look at this more closely.

Simply put, there are essentially two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation comes from within you, from your personality, your values, your morals, your attitude toward life. For instance, if your doctor tells you that you must lose weight, you might be extrinsically motivated to go on a low-calorie diet for fear of poor long-term health. Intrinsically motivated people cling to their goals with all the energy and vigor of those who "just do it." They realize that the process of becoming thin might take years, but for the intrinsic motivation exerciser, it will not be an ordeal.

Extrinsic motivation comes from "outside you." It comes from your environment, your circumstances, your experiences, your past. You experience intrinsic motivation when you are inspired by something you have done or are doing right now - for example, when you feel like you have accomplished something major when you have succeeded against difficult odds. Or when you are inspired by something you desire very much - like when you feel like you just can't live without your current weight. When you are living from your deepest self, then motivation to lose weight occurs naturally.

Intrinsic motivation doesn't need to be external, however. It is also very easy to develop. Here's a great exercise you can use to get started on developing intrinsic motivation to lose weight. Take a minute to write down three things that are important to you. Think about how you would feel when you get them, what makes them special, and how much they would help you achieve your weight loss goals.

Once you've written down these three things, go back and read them several times. Really focus on how they make you feel. Now, think about how you can change your behavior so that you can experience the same feelings when you are on the weight loss journey. This may sound simplistic, but once you start believing that eating healthy and being physically active will benefit you in ways that are good for your body, you will find that your journey to losing weight becomes more appealing. It becomes worthwhile. It can become your new path in life.

To keep this motivation going, it is important to choose a healthier diet. Your journey to weight loss will become much easier if you have the right mindset. Start eating healthier diet options that allow you to eat fewer calories while still enjoying a satisfying meal. If you're already eating a healthy diet, choose even healthier diet options and start implementing those now. You'll find that as you lose weight and eat healthier diet choices, your motivation to lose weight will begin to boost.

As you start to develop this new habit of healthy eating, you will find that your motivation to lose weight and stick with it is strong. It's almost like an addiction, because you just can't stop yourself from wanting those healthy eating options. You can find your motivation to lose weight by making healthy eating part of your daily routine. It's not just a matter of what you're doing in the short term; it's a matter of what you will be doing in the future.

Part of your motivation to lose weight and develop a healthy eating habit is finding new physical activities that you can do that require you to move your body. If you haven't been active before, start walking or jogging today. If you are active already, but feel that you aren't getting the results that you want, start running or brisk walking. When you incorporate some form of physical activity into your day to day life, you will begin to feel healthier, look better, and have more motivation to lose weight and develop new skills. The best part about this process is that it doesn't have to take a lot of time and money; you can literally get started today!