The Secret to Motivation to Lose Weight

Motivation is a tricky thing. One of the most powerful things in our world is motivation. Motivation alone keeps us going when times are tough and helps us to persevere when there seems nothing in our lives that we can accomplish. What many people don't realize is that there are three main factors to motivation; the desire, the need to succeed. Let's take a look at these main factors and explore how you can apply them to lose weight.

The first factor to consider is what is motivating you. What is the reason you're losing weight? Is it because you're bored, frustrated by your current weight? One trap many people fall into when seeking motivation to lose weight is making unrealistic or unattainable goals. Losing 20 pounds over a week is probably not the best goal to set for yourself, but if you're hungry, desperate or simply want to feel better than you currently do, it will make it seem like the goal is attainable. Aim for losing one pound per day every day until it becomes easy and natural.

The second factor is the number of calories you consume on a daily basis. Too few calories and you'll be sluggish, bored and irritable, while consuming too many calories and you'll lack energy and develop a craving for foods high in fat, sugar and processed foods. An ideal goal for losing weight is to eat five small, low-calorie meals every day with three snacks between them. These smaller meals should provide you with at least three times the calories you're burning through exercise and activity. You should also limit the amount of high calorie, high sodium and processed foods you consume each day. When you add in daily physical activity, such as walking, you'll find that your overall calorie intake is dramatically reduced.

For those trying to lose weight, the process is slowed by the body's ability to retain water. This causes people to frequently urinate, which in turn leads to weight gain. A key component to losing weight is the development of greater willpower and self-control. Your motivation to lose weight depends on your own perception of your current situation and your willingness to take immediate action. If you don't believe you can control what you put into your mouth and therefore won't change your behavior, it will be very difficult to change your eating habits.

The best way to accomplish long term weight loss is to develop a diet rich in whole foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and plenty of whole grains. A healthy diet eliminates most of the unhealthy foods we consume on a daily basis, and as you begin to lose weight your body should adjust to this change. Once your metabolism has begun to speed up, however, it is important to stick to your new healthy diet.

One of the keys to developing strong willpower to lose weight is to start small. Don't make any drastic changes to your lifestyle or eating habits right away. Instead, take baby steps and focus on making these changes gradually. Start by reducing the amount of calories you eat and gradually increase the number as you feel stronger and as you feel healthier. Resist the urge to snack by limiting your intake of high-calorie foods such as candy bars and chips. When you are able to resist the urge to snack and are able to focus on eating healthy foods in small amounts, this will strengthen your willpower and increase your motivation to lose weight.

As you become stronger and feel more confident about making positive changes to your life, you will find it easier to resist the temptation to eat out. If you have a positive role model, such as a friend or loved one, you may want to have them visit with you when you have cravings. Find a few times per week, when you can meet with a person who can give you support and help you resist temptation. The person may be able to provide you with another great role model that will prevent you from experiencing yo dieting. This person could be someone you look up to or someone who modeled your behavior after.

The ability to resist temptations is only half of the equation when it comes to losing weight. Once you have developed your willpower to eat less, you also need to develop the motivation to act on your ideas. There are no magic pills, when it comes to motivation to lose weight. You must work on developing your own self discipline and fortitude in order to maintain your plan.