Staying motivated on a diet is crucial. If you can’t stay motivated, all is lost. You will end up going off the diet, and you might not even want to give it another try. So many people end up giving up on their diet. They throw up their hands in frustration and exclaim, “I can’t do this!” But the fact is, you CAN do it. You just have to know many different ways to keep yourself motivated.
There are so many ways to stay motivated on a diet. Different people will be more motivated by one factor than another, so it’s important to know a number of different motivational methods. You need to find the ones that work for you and stick to them.
We’re going to go over some of the most powerful ways to stay motivated. You may find others that work better for you, and if so, that’s great! Stick to whatever works for you!
For now, we’re just going to discuss those that seem to work for a lot of people. You can use these to start, and add your own later as you find them.
“Thinspiration”
“Thinspiration” is a term that a lot of dieters use to describe finding photos of people who have bodies they would like to have, and using those photos to inspire them to stick to their diet.
You should look for bodies that are somewhat similar to your body type. If you are a woman with a classic pear shape, don’t expect to be able to look like a waif model. If you are a guy who is only 5’3”, you might never look like Brad Pitt.
While it’s nice to shoot for the stars and dream big, you also need to be realistic. You may never look like those celebrities, or even close. If you are extremely obese, you may be shocked when you’ve lost most of your weight to see sagging skin, stretch marks, and cellulite everywhere.
I’m not saying this to discourage you. In fact, it’s just the opposite! I’m trying to get you to be realistic. You may never have a perfect body. But you CAN choose people you would like to look SIMILAR to. Just don’t expect miracles!
Cut out various photos and put them all around. Put them on your desk, tape them to the refrigerator door, tuck them into books… keep them around you all the time. This can be a very powerful motivator, especially if you are more interested in losing weight to look better
Mirror Therapy
I like to keep a large, full-length mirror near where I eat. When I was dieting, I kept a full-length mirror near my seat in the dining room, one near my home office desk, and another in the living room near the sofa. They would be a constant reminder of what I looked like as I ate, so I would have a major incentive to eat less!
You could also scatter mirrors throughout your house so you see yourself constantly. I know I had stopped putting mirrors in the house years before I reached my highest weight, because I couldn’t stand looking at myself. But eventually I realized that it was actually very motivating to see myself!
Diet Buddies and Clubs
One of the biggest motivators of all is another person, or a crowd of people! When other people are watching your progress, you have a lot more incentive to stick to a goal. You don’t want to fail in front of someone else, or a group of others!
You should try to find a diet buddy, or join a diet support group. Most areas have a branch of overeater’s anonymous. If there isn’t a local chapter of one of these support groups, start one!
You can also team up with friends, family members, or coworkers. You can get together in pairs, or in small groups. You can have meetings, and call each other whenever you experience problems. Use a system that is somewhat like alcoholics anonymous.
If you don’t know anyone else who is trying to lose weight, and you can’t join or start a support group, you should look for support from family members or a professional. Seek help from a doctor, nutritionist, personal trainer, or other professional. Everyone needs support!
Fear Death
Perhaps the biggest motivator is to constantly remind yourself that being overweight can be deadly. The more overweight you are, the more likely it is that it will cause you serious health problems, but even being 20 pounds overweight can be a health risk.
Find articles that discuss the medical risks of obesity and put them around you. Read them daily. Sometimes scaring yourself is the best motivator of all!
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