There are many reasons you might be looking to lose weight; perhaps you’re looking to overcome years of obesity or maybe you’re just looking to tone up in time to look good for beach weather. Whatever the reason is for your current goal, it’s important to keep a positive mindset in order to stay motivated as negative thinking can turn your journey into an upsetting one. Self-loathing and comparing yourself to others is an unhealthy way to inspire yourself to lose weight, but there are plenty of ways to get yourself in the mood for self-improvement without coming at it from a destructive mindset.
Look at Others with Admiration, not Desperation
If you’re the type of person who keeps your head down in the gym locker room in order to avoid looking at others who already have the body type you desire, snap out of it. Don’t look at others with desperation, jealousy, or resentment; instead, be excited that those people exist as living proof that your ideal body type is attainable. Admire their physique, and let it serve as inspiration for continuing to pursue your own goals.
Rewire Your Reason for Losing Weight into a Positive One
A common reason many people decide to lose weight is based on unhappiness with their current physical appearance. That’s not necessarily a bad motive, but it certainly leaves room for more positive thinking. Replace working out and eating right because you hate your body with working out and eating right because you love your body; a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and a consistent exercise routine is the best way to show your body the attention it deserves in order to get it to function at maximum ability, and by working towards something out of self-care instead of self-distain, the whole journey will feel much more fulfilling.
Surround Yourself with Positive Images
Many people put pictures on their fridge of men and women with ideal bodies to discourage cravings, and this can be a very healthy way to deter unnecessary snacking. Instead of just focusing on your fridge though, surround yourself with inspirational images all over, and choose pictures that go past the physical reason for losing weight; pictures of rock climbing, mountain biking, or marathons can symbolize the fun activities you will be able to engage in that your body might not be ready for at the current moment. Hang them up on your bathroom mirror and at your desk at work in order to consistently associate those positive outcomes with achieving your goal.
Find a Workout Buddy
Having a friend or family member who wants to get in shape just as much as you do is a great way to stay motivated. You’ll be there to hold each other accountable, celebrate each other’s successes, and best of all, have someone you can talk with honestly who genuinely gets where you’re coming from, and emotional support can be exactly what it takes to staydetermined to hit the target.
Create a Course of Action
A vague plan opens up the doors to procrastination and excuse making, so it’s extremely important to work out the details of exactly how you plan to reach your ideal weight. Set different goals for every week that all lead up to the grand finale. For example, the first week goal could be as simple as making diet changes and going to the gym at least three times a week, and then the second week goal could advance to working out four times and losing a total of two pounds. It’s important to make your goals realistic and flexible; the point is just to have a general direction you’re going in to avoid ambiguity, and falling short of your desired results is never a reason to be too hard on yourself. Remember life gets in the way of our plans sometimes, and as long as you’re dedicated and continually making progress, you have a reason to be proud of yourself.
Attempting to lose weight can be extremely frustrating, and those negative emotions can make you question if your efforts are even worth the time. Before you throw in the towel, try to stay positive by reminding yourself of all the reasons you started in the first place, and by admiring others, focusing on your self-worth, surrounding yourself with inspiration, creating a support system, and turning a long term goal into several short term goals, you’ll be able to start transforming your dream into a reality.
James Anderson is a freelance writer, survivalist, and sports enthusiast. He currently writes about sports, fitness, and storage lockers for www.schoollockers.com.
