If you're like most people who have tried to shed extra body fat, you've no doubt experienced the frustration that can accompany that effort. Getting your body into better shape is certainly no easy task. In fact, millions of people each year start diet and exercise regimens only to abandon the struggle after only a few weeks or months. The key to avoiding that failure is to understand a few basic tips for motivating weight loss success.
The most critical advice is to set realistic expectations. Chances are that it took you months or even years of poor decisions to get out of shape. Knowing that, why would you think you could get back into shape in just a few weeks? Set more modest and attainable goals. For most people, the goal should be to lose one or two pounds per week.
Deprivation kills dieting. Learn that fact and avoid it all costs. You didn't get out of shape just because you enjoy a piece of cake every now and again. You gained the fat because you ate too much of almost everything, and did so regularly. If you try to deny yourself all the foods you love, you will eventually fail. With that in mind, be prepared to give yourself those treats on a regular basis.
Count the calories and track them in a journal. This is absolutely essential. You'll never really know how your strategy is working if you don't track it as you go. Keep a log of your meals, the calories consumed, and any exercise you engage in. That will provide you with important data to use in your efforts, while also offering additional motivation to inspire you to persevere.
Look for positive messages and skip the negativity. Many overweight people spend so much time being critical of themselves that they actually invite failure. After listening to their own inner voices criticize their many failures, most just lose hope and settle back into their own ways. Motivate yourself with positive self-talk and find friends and family members who will offer similar encouragement.
Cook for yourself as often as you can. Believe it or not, learning to prepare your own meals is one of the easiest ways to develop good eating habits. You'll have more control over what is going into your body, and you'll also develop better insight into how different foods go together to create healthy meals. As you gain expertise, you'll find yourself more motivated than ever.
Finally, never allow failure to get the best of you. Almost every dieter fails at least once in his or her efforts to get back into shape. Many simply give up and return to their old habits, gaining even more extra pounds and confirming their worst fears about themselves. When you fail and find yourself cheating on your dietary plan or skipping exercise, pick yourself up and start again.
Losing those extra pounds can be a struggle of epic proportions. By following these six motivational tips, however, you can ensure that you remain motivated to see the struggle through to a successful conclusion. The end result will be more than worth the effort you make.
The most critical advice is to set realistic expectations. Chances are that it took you months or even years of poor decisions to get out of shape. Knowing that, why would you think you could get back into shape in just a few weeks? Set more modest and attainable goals. For most people, the goal should be to lose one or two pounds per week.
Deprivation kills dieting. Learn that fact and avoid it all costs. You didn't get out of shape just because you enjoy a piece of cake every now and again. You gained the fat because you ate too much of almost everything, and did so regularly. If you try to deny yourself all the foods you love, you will eventually fail. With that in mind, be prepared to give yourself those treats on a regular basis.
Count the calories and track them in a journal. This is absolutely essential. You'll never really know how your strategy is working if you don't track it as you go. Keep a log of your meals, the calories consumed, and any exercise you engage in. That will provide you with important data to use in your efforts, while also offering additional motivation to inspire you to persevere.
Look for positive messages and skip the negativity. Many overweight people spend so much time being critical of themselves that they actually invite failure. After listening to their own inner voices criticize their many failures, most just lose hope and settle back into their own ways. Motivate yourself with positive self-talk and find friends and family members who will offer similar encouragement.
Cook for yourself as often as you can. Believe it or not, learning to prepare your own meals is one of the easiest ways to develop good eating habits. You'll have more control over what is going into your body, and you'll also develop better insight into how different foods go together to create healthy meals. As you gain expertise, you'll find yourself more motivated than ever.
Finally, never allow failure to get the best of you. Almost every dieter fails at least once in his or her efforts to get back into shape. Many simply give up and return to their old habits, gaining even more extra pounds and confirming their worst fears about themselves. When you fail and find yourself cheating on your dietary plan or skipping exercise, pick yourself up and start again.
Losing those extra pounds can be a struggle of epic proportions. By following these six motivational tips, however, you can ensure that you remain motivated to see the struggle through to a successful conclusion. The end result will be more than worth the effort you make.
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