The Journey of Dieting: Part 1 of 3 - MOTIVATION

For me, staying motivated is usually the hardest part of dieting. I start out motivated, but somewhere along the way I lose my motivation. Once it's lost, dieting becomes a challenge and a struggle and I give up before I've made any significant progress.

Motivation is different for everyone. For many, the promise of a new wardrobe, or a couple of hundred dollars would be sufficient incentive to keep them working at losing weight. Throughout my life my grandmother has offered me such rewards. Although she called them "rewards" I always felt it was bribery. Whichever way you look at it, it never gave me the incentive to succeed at my weight loss program.

I believe that motivation is the key to successful dieting. It's what drives you to lose weight and stay on your diet. Motivation will keep you focused and it can help you get through the most difficult times. If you have a specific goal, you can focus on your goal and remind yourself of what it is that you are working for. Whether it's the wish to feel better about yourself, the need to look good for a special occasion, or the simple desire to lose weight, it helps to have a specific goal and a strategy for obtaining it.

Here are some tips for getting and staying motivated:

Set realistic, small goals that are easy to achieve. A goal of losing 100 pounds is obtainable, but since 100 pounds is a considerable amount of weight to lose, it's a goal that would not be reached in a short period of time. It would be very easy to lose your motivation along the way. Rather than setting a goal of 100 pounds, try setting a small goal of 10 pounds. Once you reach your goal set another goal of 10 or maybe 15 pounds. If you are able to reach your goals quickly, you will be motivated to reach the next goal. You will still lose the 100 pounds, maybe even in the same amount of time, but along the way you have reinforced your motivation by setting small goals and reaching them.

Rewarding yourself for reaching goals may give you added incentive to reach them. Set a goal and have something in mind that you will reward yourself with when you reach your goal. For example, treat yourself to a manicure for losing the 1st ten pounds, or buy yourself that paperback book you want for sticking to your exercise program.

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