4 Rules for Maintaining Your Weight Loss Motivation

Even if you’re ready for a dramatic life change, maintaining your weight loss motivation can be a challenge. If you follow a number of rules, however, you’ll find renewed motivation as you move toward your goals. We’ll discuss four of them below.

Know the numbers — The first rule for weight loss is to know your numbers. Step on the scale, but not constantly, and not even daily; once a week is sufficient.

It is also important that you know your measurements. Be as precise as possible and record the measurements for your upper arms, hips, chest, waist, and thighs. Repeat this process every 2-4 weeks and compare your results. A loss of even a fraction of an inch is something to celebrate!

Keep a journal — The next rule for weight loss motivation, and perhaps the most important one, is to keep a journal. Record your weight, your measurements, when and what you eat, and your daily activity.

Use the journal to record interesting weight loss facts that you come across. Record your emotions during the weight loss process. The journal enables you to discover patterns in your behavior and offers encouragement when your motivation wanes.

Researching — The third most important rule for losing weight involves research. You must educate yourself so that you have the tools you need to maintain your results. Learn what foods the USDA Food Pyramid recommends. Train yourself to recognize proper portion sizes. Read articles on weight-related topics.

Start recording interesting weight loss, exercise, and dieting facts in your journal to keep them accessible. Reading a new twist on something you already know can be very motivating.

The power of the mind — The fourth and final rule that we’re going to discuss is that you must spend some time each day meditating. Call it what you choose, but to maintain weight loss motivation, you must have a vision of what you want to be.

Each day, spend time reflecting on exactly what it will take for you to reach your goal. How will you have to behave? What will you have to eat? How will you deal with temptation? It’s all in the details.

Following these four simple rules that we’ve discussed will help your motivation remain at its peak. The dramatic lifestyle change that you covet will become possible and you’ll find that the journey becomes pleasurable as your confidence grows.

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