Motivate Myself to Lose Weight

Have you ever wondered asked yourself, “How do I motivate myself to lose weight?” You’re not alone. Many people want to lose weight, but lack the energy and motivation necessary to begin a diet and stick with it.

How To Motivate Myself to Lose Weight

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy when it comes to weight loss. We come up with all kinds of reasons why we can’t stick with a weight loss program. The following statements represent things we typically say when we aren’t motivated to begin a healthier lifestyle.

I’m Too Tired to Exercise

How many times have you told yourself that you’re too tired to exercise when you’re trying to lose weight? We’re all tired, sometimes, but we can’t let that get in the way of our weight loss program. One of the biggest reasons people dislike exercise is because they don’t enjoy it. People may think that the only way to lose weight is through vigorous, pavement-pounding workouts. This isn’t true, and for some people, it may be dangerous. If you are extremely overweight, slow and gentle workouts are the best way to begin an exercise program. Of course, you should always discuss your weight loss plans with your physician first.

Ideas for a gentle workout include:

• Swimming
• Pilates
• Yoga
• Beginner Stretch and Tone Classes

I Hate Diet Food

Who doesn’t hate diet food? One way to motivate yourself to lose weight is through eating a varied diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. You don’t have to eat diet bars or tofu to lose weight. A balanced diet is always the best way to go. Fad diets should be avoided at all costs since statistically you will gain back the weight you lose plus a few more pounds. If you don’t already own a few healthy cookbooks, visit your local library or bookstore to pick up a few. Good choices include the Weight Watcher’s Cookbooks, Cooking Light books and the new Betty Crocker cookbook (the old version is a little heavy on fats and oils).

Experiment with cooking meals, especially if you’ve never really tried cooking before. You may find that you have a real knack for cooking and enjoy it as a creative outlet. Try using fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables in your dishes; you won’t miss those pre-packaged diet foods that you’ve been eating with little success.

I Don’t Know Where to Start

The best way to start any diet program is to speak with your doctor first. He or she will be able to discuss what your goals are and how your current health may affect any weight loss program. If you tell them, “I can’t motivate myself to lose weight,” they can give you tips on how to get over this hurdle or even prescribe medications that can jump-start your weight loss program safely.

It may also be a good idea to speak with a nutritionist to help you learn what foods are good to eat, which should be avoided and foods that should only be eaten in moderation. If you’ve never learned about the food pyramid, or haven’t seen how it has changed in the past five years, now is the time to get acquainted with it.

Get Started Today

There is no time like the present to start getting yourself into shape. By eating well you’ll find you have more energy. Adding exercise to any weight loss program will help to burn fat quicker and speed up your metabolism. Exercise and safe weight loss can also strengthen your heart and decrease your risk for heart disease, diabetes, strokes and cancer.

Do you need more motivation to get started? Check out these other informative articles on beginning a weight loss program:

• Daily Healthy Eating Plan
• Eating a Healthy Diet: The Basics
• Why Is Nutrition Important