What is the best way to STAY motivated while losing weight?

Question

Okay, so basically I go to the gym for about an hour at a time, usually either once or twice a week. On top of that, I also usually walk my dog up to three times a week for at least 2-3 miles. Occasionally I count my points with WeightWatchers and other times I just watch what I eat. My problem is this... Everytime I start dropping a few pounds, I lose motivation and go right back to my old ways. I hate going to the gym because I feel like its infested with germs but most of the time I suck it up anyhow. I know part of my problem is the weather. When its sunny out, I'll be out all day being active.. but when its gloomy.. all I want to do is get my errands done and relax. Any ideas?!

Answer 1

First of all, kudos to you for making the decision to work on improving your health. My highest weight was 340 lbs...that was almost 6 years ago. I am now 175 lbs...it was a tough process, but here are my suggestions:

The best way to stick with lifestyle changes in order to lose weight is to set realistic goals, and strive for them...keep track of your achievements and reward yourself for achieving your goal. Many of us use food as a reward...so it is important to find a new reward to use.

Keep a diary of your progress..your weight loss and your feelings about it. Keep track of your goals. For example: Lose your first 10 lbs before 2 months is up. Fit into your favorite pair of jeans after a certain number of weeks. Reward yourself for every two weeks that you go to the gym faithfully at least 3 times a week.

Some ideas for rewards for big milestones in your weight loss: go out to get your nails done...have a special type of tea for your "after workout reward"...take a bubblebath and relax after your gym visit. Avoid food rewards...but treat yourself to a new pair of pants after you've lost a size or two....

Write down your realistic goals in your diary, and keep track of the date when you reached that goal. Then you can look back and see how far you have come.

I had such an excessive amount of weight to lose that I had some very big goals. Here are some of my big milestones:

Get under 300 lbs
Lose first 50 lbs
Be able to shop in Lane Bryant again
Fit comfortably in movie theater seats
Lose first 100 lbs
Fit in clothing sizes lower than 20
Buy clothes in regular stores
Walk 1 mile without being out of breath
Be under 200 lbs
Be too small to shop in Lane Bryant anymore!
Fit in clothes in Victoria's Secret
Be complimented by a stranger
Comfortably ride a roller coaster



The list goes on and on. Before I started my weight loss journey I made a list of things I wanted to be able to do. I look back at that list, and I am amazed at how many things I've done, and the accomplishments encourage me to maintain my weight loss and be proud of how far I've come.

Good luck to you...Don't give up! It is worth it. :)

Answer 2

Your problem is you make a lot of excuses... c'mon buddy... everything from germ infestations at the gym to the weather is holding you back?! GET OVER IT. Your excuses are holding you back. If you lose a few pounds no one will notice. If you can get over those pitiful excuses then you can develop a routine. And when you develop a routine you'll start shedding pounds, as long as your pitiful excuses don't get in the way. And once you notice yourself and how much better you look naked, you'll get even more motivated. But the most motivation will come when your friends ask you if you've been losing weight. That means that its getting noticeable and you'll be headed in the right direction. Find some will power and help it drown those pitiful excuses.

Answer 3

I am in the same position you are. I've looked into "fat camps" which I think are a viable option, if you go to the right one, Wellspring Camps are a good one. Don't be frightened by the price, some of it is covered by health insurance and what-not. If a camp isn't an option for you going to groups like "Overeaters Anonymous" helps, it's easier to lose weight with that peer pressure pushing you along. Every time you want to eat some Doritos or that candy bar you think that everyone will know next week that you messed up because you'll weigh more than you did last week.

Answer 4

Get someone. If you have someone that you are in charge of driving to the gym, you would have to admit to someone else that you are too lazy. The guilt of sabatoging someone else's work out will help motivate you. Sounds crazy right?

When I go to the gym by myself, the difference b/t staying 45 min and an hour is meaningless. Imean if I leave now, I could throw in a load of laundry and could get started on dinner before my husband come home. But when I go with someone, I always stay more than an hour b/c I don't want them to feel like "geez if I hadn't come with her I could have finished my workout". Plus on days that you don't feel so well--but you aren't really sick you are just tired and feeling blah--you wouldn't go to the gym. But someone else might be having a great day, highly motivated and ready to work out. Then if you wanted to blow it off--there would be someone else there that would be able to convince you not to blow it off.

I have a friend whose trainer actually calls him at work if he misses a couple days. Another friend posts on her livejournal --open to the public--her workout each day. If it was a crappy workout 2 days in a row--it's open for anyone to see and comment on the fact that you aren't doing as well this week as you did last week. She also posts the amount of lbs she lost, or inches. That way when she reached a plateau for a week, multiple friends could help encourage her by explaining that plateaus are perfectly normal and giving her some extra exercises to consider to jazz up the workout.

I know what you mean--I am the exact same way! Rainy days I just want to stay in bed. And I used to live around a lot of my friends and we all met at the gym at 400 every day. Not everyone was on the same schedule so if it was my cardio day, one of my friends was doing legs, another doing arms. But we were all in the gym together. No one wanted to be the person that didn't show up for 2 days in a row either. Cause it wasn't just lying to yourself--everyone would know the truth! Now that we have moved away from that support, I find it soo much harder. I barely work out 3 times a week now (and probably not to the same intensity as before) and I can so tell the difference! Working out definitely requires a support staff!

Answer 5

I've lost 5 kilos in my first week. It's my 10th day and I have included salad with some protein (eg. egg/ lean chicken) as you suggested. After 4 years of trying, the fat is finally coming off. It truly feels like magic!

Get started today!

Answer 6

Your situation is very common....

It seem like you get enough exercise in....just try to add a day more to your exercise. I'm sorta the same way I've lost weight and now it's hard to keep motivated. Just try harder to reach your goal, if you have one. I put my goal on a time limit so that sorta helps me keep motivated....

But I'm extremist so I have to constantly remind myself not to try every trick to the trade out here.

Answer 7

I'm struggling with the same thing, so I'll be checking here for answers. I know one thing that helps a lot is having a friend that you go with or a specific class you take like aerobics or something. Good luck!

Answer 8

Ask your self before eat

Answer 9

Try yoga to lose weight

Answer 10

Chew thoroughly chewing each bite 30 times before swallowing