Weight Loss Inspiration

The easiest tool you can use is a weight loss inspiration or Vision Board, which is a visual representation of where you want to be at the end of your weight loss journey and how you are going to get there. To create one, cut pictures out of fitness magazines, print out inspirational quotes, pictures of healthy, vibrant people, or yourself at an ideal weight and fitness level. Paste everything on a poster board, your mirror, or the refrigerator and look at it often. This will keep you motivated to keep going every day.

When your body starts changing, not only will you notice, but so will family, friends, and co-workers. The positive reinforcement you will receive and your growing confidence will spur you on to victory.

Part of staying motivated is being realistic with your goals and aware of common bumps in the road. For example, many people hit a Diet Plateau after a certain amount of steady weight loss. Know that this is nothing to worry about, though it can be frustrating, it's perfectly normal.

One thing that you shouldn’t do is give up. Look at it this way: You aren’t losing weight, but you aren’t gaining weight either. Plateaus are experienced several times over the course of a weight loss program. In the beginning, weight loss is steady because it’s new to the body. Your increased metabolism and decreased caloric intake work to shed those pounds. Water loss accounts for at least the first ten pounds of weight loss. As your body works to adjust to your physical activity, more calories are burned which translated into more weight lost. Plateaus come when the body has become accustomed to the routine.

One thing that can be a de-motivator is your scale. Don’t stress about the weight. Concentrate more on how you look, feel, and how your clothes are fitting. Throw out the scale (if it was expensive, just pack it away in the back of the garage). You may have heard this before, but it’s true: Muscle weighs more than fat. If weight training has been a component of your weight loss program, then as the muscle mass increases so will your weight. You may still be losing fat, but the weight of the increased muscle balances everything out.

Another extremely motivating tool is a food & fitness journal. Not to write down everything you eat and how many steps you take each day, but to record how you feel after your workout (were you energized? did you hit a fitness goal?), or how proud you were of yourself for making a healthy food choice while out to dinner with your friends. Be your biggest cheerleader, praise your wins, and keep it positive. Keeping a food & fitness journal can help track what works for you, keep the scale moving, and keep you motivated.

Remember, without weight loss inspiration, it can be easy to give into temptation, or to give up all together. The right inspiration will keep you focused and keep your eye, "on the prize." Find out what works for you.

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