How can I get motivated to lose weight?

Question

I've tried gyms that I quit when im in the mirror I like myself. I've been on weight watchers, o/a, jenncraig, but I can never stay motivated now im 20 pounds over my weight, and I need the push I know it.

Answer 1

You are looking at it wrong.

I think you see losing weight as a intellectualy problem,
that if you can trick yourself into looking at it right you will
not be hungry and not eat.

Overeating is a bad-habit that is like drug addiction.
I would suggest getting help, overeaters anonymous, or
something. In some cases overeating can be as bad
or worse for your health as drugs ... so take this seriously.

Try to eat only when you are hungry, and then try to eat
fruit and veggies. Stay away from all soft-drinks fats and
starches. It is a lifeltime job, and seeing other people doing
the wrong thing all the time and in the media does not make
it any easier does it?

Answer 2

Buy a fun workout DVD. One that only lasts about 30 minutes. This will be a small step towards getting motivated. Maybe after you start feeling a little better physically, you'll then be motivated to start making some diet changes as well. Remember, if you are the type that is hard to get motivated, then make short-term goals and make small, but consistent steps towards accomplishing it. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Answer 3

Try a change of perspective. You've accepted that you need to lose weight, why? Try moderate lifestyle changes and think less about what you look like in the mirror and more about what you can do for yourself. Stop making food your enemy and exercise a losing battle. Find activities you enjoy (dance while you clean if ya want!) Focus more on eating nutrition dense foods that are lower in fat rather than trying to stay away from the tempting treats. If you keep your body fueled you are less likely to have to resist those treats and more likely to feel satisfied. Just try to see it as less of a fight and more of a quest. Be proactive in deciding what to eat and when to exercise, as opposed to what/when NOT to. Make gradual changes in your diet and find out what balance of foods your body needs to correlate with your activity level...you'll find it, just listen to your body closely. Finally, don't freak out about gaining a pound or three in the process. Muscle weighs more than fat, water weight can make you fluctuate within the course of a few hours, and you might gain a couple pounds while you're trying to find the right balance of food. This can be frustrating when you've worked so hard! Again, you'll find it. Stick your tongue out at the scale and turn your attention toward how your clothes are fitting. You've gotta be patient! (I know, in the commercial it's before and after within a 30 second frame! How do they do it??) Happy being healthy!

Answer 4

Get a friend to help you. I know it sounds cliche but I found it helped me get to the gym or stop buying the unhealthy foods when I had a freind with me doing the same thing. Because then on your lazy days there is someone there to make you move and do something.

It also helps to cheat on your diet every while or so. I'm not saying everyday or anything but reward yourself with things you like. If you feel you had a good workout one day or you reached a weight loss goal you have been looking forward to,reward yourself with a single serving piece of cake from a bakery or a serving of chocolate or something like that. I find it's easier to get to the light at the end of the tunnel if it's several short tunnels as opposed to one long one. :) hope that helped!

Answer 5

I think it would be fair to ask yourself why you want to loose weight.Then make a pros and cons list about what loosing weight will do for you.Keep in mind the more mental, emotional and physical aspects.Try not to focus on thing outside of you.Like people will think you are sexier, prettier, hot etc. It is not what they think that matters in the long run. Ask yourself if the loosing weight is to obtain better and improved health or if it is purely due to what you look like to others and or yourself.What matters most importantly is how you feel about YOURSELF. Check your MBI on a site online http://sheknows.com/about/look/2812.htm

This site should make it easier. It will tell you if you are a healthy weight for your age and height. Although it does not describe your overall health it will provide you with a focus. It will also tell you if you are a good weight or not.It should anyway.....

Take the positive (pros) of your list and put then up somewhere where you can see them everyday.........To remind you of why you want to lose weight....A picture of when you were at your ideal weight helps too.

Now think about your diet. Are you eating properly. From the four food groups and the correct amounts. Do you have variety.Do you eat to many crabs etc...Now come up with some goals to accomplish your desire to lose weight.These should be followed by with objectives, such as
1)GOAL-Eat less junk food
Objective- Have one chocolate bar a week to start with

I have goals too but need to reach them all to have my desire achieved. I can't just say I will stop eating junk, eat a nutritious breakfast, drink water every day etc. It is too much. If you try to do it all at once you will undoubtedly fail because you will not be able to achieve all these things without slipping and then feeling guilty for it later and eating a bag of doritioes to dull the pain.

My point is to be realistic about how much you want to lose.
Get some information about eating and diets and staying healthy and fit........There are many sites that can help with that...such as..
http://www.fitday.com/ There are many free sites to use that provide great stuff for free........

Whatever you do DO NOT BEAT yourself up for a slip it only makes it worse and leaves you feeling like a failure and remember what you think about yourself is the most important thing......So that is it for now..Good luck and may I suggest a good read called HOW TO DO MORE OF WHAT WORKS! SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTH........................................IF AT ALL POSSIBLE......Just remember to love yourself first and for most and have confidence in yourself.Do it for yourself and no body else...CURVE is a really good place to go as well. They are supportive and though there are people there you would like to look like there are also ones that you wish not to be like. Use them to remind you of why you are doing what you are doing.I would say start drinking the required 8-10 glasses of water a day.....should I send you a picture of myself.that should motivate you BIG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am working on it......lol

Answer 6

Motivation = Confidence + Importance. To motivate yourself to change a behavior or do something then two things have to happen... The need to do it must become very important to you and you must have confidence in yourself that you can actually succeed at doing it. The key to increasing confidence is making sure you have all the necessary tools, skills, and knowledge that will allow you to reach your goal. The key to increasing importance is to find reasons to change that are meaningful to you and give you something you really want.

I am also in the weight loss process and I came across "The Sixty Second Motivator" as recommended reading material. It is a fairly short read and worth it.

Answer 7

if u wonna lose weight because u r not satisfied with ur body, then maybe look into a mirror once in a while. And if u r takin action to lose weight, make sure not to lose weight by using products or limiting ur diet. Just go outside and excersise more (unless u got a rely bad nutrition diet)

Answer 8

What keeps me motivated every time I loose some motivation is looking at others who are trying/succeeded.

There are various fourms online (my favorite being the bodybuilding.com) where people post pictures and give advice to others. Being part of the culture helps more than you can beleive. I consider bodybuilding a life style.

Answer 9

Post a picture of someone like Carmen Electra or a skinny supermodel near your fridge so when you're about to eat for the sake of eating.......... think reasonably and healthy rather than for munching/boredom-

Thats what I did for motivation to workout and eat better-it's not the "fun" way.. and it sucks.. but it makes you rethink your actions.

Answer 10

It's easy! Think of your heart as a big sponge. When you use it and don't clean it afterwards it gets clogged and doesn't hold water and eventually it doesn't work and you throw it away! Think of losing weight and exercising as cleaning your sponge out so it can absorb water and clean at it's maximum potential!!!!