Weight Loss Motivation Guidelines
Dear Friend,
When it comes to weight loss success, personal motivation is widely recognized as the key foundation by nutritionists and obesity experts. Regardless of how healthy and well-designed a nutrition plan may be, its effectiveness hinges on the individual’s willingness to adhere to it for a sustained period. The level of motivation to modify eating and exercise habits directly influences the ability to achieve weight loss goals.
Scarcity of Motivational Guidance: 😏
While the internet offers a bewildering array of diets and weight loss eating plans, there is a surprising lack of guidance on motivation in relation to nutrition. This lack of motivational support may stem from the fact that many health plans are developed by individuals lacking hands-on experience in assisting people with weight management. Perhaps they perceive weight loss as solely a biological process, overlooking its profound human dimension. Such oversight, in my opinion, is a misstep.
While the internet offers a bewildering array of diets and weight loss eating plans, there is a surprising lack of guidance on motivation in relation to nutrition. This lack of motivational support may stem from the fact that many health plans are developed by individuals lacking hands-on experience in assisting people with weight management. Perhaps they perceive weight loss as solely a biological process, overlooking its profound human dimension. Such oversight, in my opinion, is a misstep.
Motivating Oneself for Weight Loss: 💃
I tell all my clients that starting a weight loss plan is like starting a journey. And like any journey, it requires preparation. We need to look ahead and plan how to overcome problems that occur along the way. By doing this, we take control of the process and greatly increase our chances of success of others. It requires foresight and proactive planning to overcome the challenges that will inevitably arise along the way. By doing so, we assume control of the process and significantly enhance our chances of success.
I tell all my clients that starting a weight loss plan is like starting a journey. And like any journey, it requires preparation. We need to look ahead and plan how to overcome problems that occur along the way. By doing this, we take control of the process and greatly increase our chances of success of others. It requires foresight and proactive planning to overcome the challenges that will inevitably arise along the way. By doing so, we assume control of the process and significantly enhance our chances of success.
Regrettably, many individuals embarking on this journey fail to plan ahead. Instead, they rely on their initial enthusiasm and subsequently, their willpower. Enthusiasm and willpower alone are insufficient to overcome the temptations and difficulties encountered when attempting to change eating habits and lifestyle.
Take a moment to imagine going on a camping trip with your family. Would you rely solely on your enthusiasm and willpower to secure food and shelter? Certainly not. Most likely, you would spend considerable time beforehand meticulously packing and preparing for every possible scenario, carefully planning the entire trip in advance. ✔
Yet, when initiating a health journey, many people set off without any form of planning or preparation. It is as if they are convinced that everything will proceed seamlessly. However, let’s face it, no journey ever unfolds without hitches. So, what transpires when confronted with a significant problem? We become disheartened and often abandon our efforts.
The Need for Cultivating New Thinking Habits: 🧠
Planning a weight loss journey entails more than just packing physical equipment; it involves packing “new thoughts.” We must practice and adopt fresh perspectives to overcome the obstacles encountered during our journey. This is not mere psychobabble; it is plain common sense. After all, successful weight loss primarily hinges on motivation and attitude—what transpires within our minds.
Planning a weight loss journey entails more than just packing physical equipment; it involves packing “new thoughts.” We must practice and adopt fresh perspectives to overcome the obstacles encountered during our journey. This is not mere psychobabble; it is plain common sense. After all, successful weight loss primarily hinges on motivation and attitude—what transpires within our minds.
The Most Common Weight Loss Challenge: 😴
Boredom stands out as the most prevalent obstacle we face during our journey. It typically emerges when our initial enthusiasm for weight loss wanes, and we grow tired of monitoring our food intake. We become dispirited and slightly despondent, particularly when it seems everyone else is enjoying themselves while we stick to our “sensible eating habits.”
Boredom stands out as the most prevalent obstacle we face during our journey. It typically emerges when our initial enthusiasm for weight loss wanes, and we grow tired of monitoring our food intake. We become dispirited and slightly despondent, particularly when it seems everyone else is enjoying themselves while we stick to our “sensible eating habits.”
Boredom arises from a loss of direction. To overcome it, we must realign ourselves with our destination. It is vital to recognize that this weight loss journey is not aimless but rather a journey from point A to point B. Consider the following thought process that occurs when we lose our direction:
“I’m incredibly bored with eating healthy; it’s such a hassle. I have no freedom anymore. I can’t eat this or that… I’m fed up. I can’t indulge in food with my colleagues at work, can’t dine at my favorite restaurants, have to decline food when visiting friends, observe my family eating in front of me, lack sufficient time for proper exercise—I’ll never lose weight, and I’m utterly miserable. Life is too short for all this…”
Such thinking is entirely demotivating, focusing solely on the negative aspects of this journey and indicate a complete lack of purpose.
A Better Way of Thinking: 🤔
Now let me show you some better alternatives. Please compare them with the above example.
Example 1 ⌛
“Hmm, my eating habits are not going well. But I’m not going to make excuses. I’ve wasted enough time making excuses to myself. From now on, no matter what happens, I’m going to be honest with myself. So what do I want? I want to lose weight and get myself into shape. Why? Because I really want that beach holiday (or other very selfish goal) which I promised myself. I want it so bad I can touch it! Okay, so I need to learn how to eat properly – big deal! I can easily do this if I put my mind to it. Heck! Eating good food isn’t difficult. What’s difficult is seeing myself being overweight for the rest of my life. I want something better. Something a lot better than a fistful of nachos or a dollop of fatty dessert.”
Example 2 👙
“Hmm, my eating habits are not going well. So let me remind myself why I’m doing this. All my life I’ve been eating to please other people. My mom said “eat this”, so I ate it. My school friends said “have some of this”, so I had lots. My work colleagues now say “have a slice of this”, so I have two! And my kids say “you must try this”, so I try it. And every time I make an effort to lose weight, everyone says “forget about your new eating habits, eat some of this” so I do. Well that’s enough! No more eating to please other people. Today I’m going to start eating to please me. And what pleases me is the idea of wearing a size (?) dress to my daughter’s wedding (or other very selfish goal). I realise I need to eat properly, but this is a ridiculously tiny price to pay for achieving my goal. Heck! Eating good food isn’t difficult. What’s difficult is carrying my excess weight around all day. I want something better. Something a lot better than a 4-cheese pizza or a box of cookies.”
Example 3 🍎
“Hmm, my eating habits are not goingsmoothly as I thought it would. Never mind, I’m sure this is quite normal. I can’t expect to change my regular eating habits without a few hiccups along the way. Besides, I’m looking for more than the few minutes of pleasure I get from filling my stomach with junk. I want a lifetime of pleasure – real pleasure from looking good and being taken seriously and who knows, maybe finding a great partner. I know other people see me as a fat person – goodness, at times I do too! – but this is exactly WHY I want to change. I’m tired of being fat. Real tired. And if this means learning how to eat good food, then let’s do it! All I know is, I want to make it happen!”
Points To Remember: 📝
1. Healthy living is a journey from A to B.
2. Feeling bored is a sign we are losing our direction.
3. When we lose direction we need to regain it, fast!
4. The way to regain direction is to remind yourself why you are going through this journey.
5. You are living healthier because you want something better than a plate of fattening food.
A Better Way of Thinking: 🤔
Now let me show you some better alternatives. Please compare them with the above example.
Example 1 ⌛
“Hmm, my eating habits are not going well. But I’m not going to make excuses. I’ve wasted enough time making excuses to myself. From now on, no matter what happens, I’m going to be honest with myself. So what do I want? I want to lose weight and get myself into shape. Why? Because I really want that beach holiday (or other very selfish goal) which I promised myself. I want it so bad I can touch it! Okay, so I need to learn how to eat properly – big deal! I can easily do this if I put my mind to it. Heck! Eating good food isn’t difficult. What’s difficult is seeing myself being overweight for the rest of my life. I want something better. Something a lot better than a fistful of nachos or a dollop of fatty dessert.”
Example 2 👙
“Hmm, my eating habits are not going well. So let me remind myself why I’m doing this. All my life I’ve been eating to please other people. My mom said “eat this”, so I ate it. My school friends said “have some of this”, so I had lots. My work colleagues now say “have a slice of this”, so I have two! And my kids say “you must try this”, so I try it. And every time I make an effort to lose weight, everyone says “forget about your new eating habits, eat some of this” so I do. Well that’s enough! No more eating to please other people. Today I’m going to start eating to please me. And what pleases me is the idea of wearing a size (?) dress to my daughter’s wedding (or other very selfish goal). I realise I need to eat properly, but this is a ridiculously tiny price to pay for achieving my goal. Heck! Eating good food isn’t difficult. What’s difficult is carrying my excess weight around all day. I want something better. Something a lot better than a 4-cheese pizza or a box of cookies.”
Example 3 🍎
“Hmm, my eating habits are not goingsmoothly as I thought it would. Never mind, I’m sure this is quite normal. I can’t expect to change my regular eating habits without a few hiccups along the way. Besides, I’m looking for more than the few minutes of pleasure I get from filling my stomach with junk. I want a lifetime of pleasure – real pleasure from looking good and being taken seriously and who knows, maybe finding a great partner. I know other people see me as a fat person – goodness, at times I do too! – but this is exactly WHY I want to change. I’m tired of being fat. Real tired. And if this means learning how to eat good food, then let’s do it! All I know is, I want to make it happen!”
Points To Remember: 📝
1. Healthy living is a journey from A to B.
2. Feeling bored is a sign we are losing our direction.
3. When we lose direction we need to regain it, fast!
4. The way to regain direction is to remind yourself why you are going through this journey.
5. You are living healthier because you want something better than a plate of fattening food.
Sending You Tons of Love and Humongous Hugs,
Tina “No More Excuses” McDermott
