6 Ways to Maintain Motivation with Your Diet and Exercise

Most of us would like to lose at least a few pounds or just generally get into better shape and physical condition. Starting a diet is relatively easy, and millions of people do this each year. However, sticking with the diet long enough to see significant, and lasting, results is something that most people do not accomplish.

Exercise programs, like diets, are started by a lot of people who want to lose weight and get in better shape, but only a percentage of people that start will stick with it and have enough consistency to see real results and improved health.

Before you will ever see results that truly change your health and your life, you will need to achieve consistency and discipline in your diet and exercise. In order to get to this point, you will need to have something that motivates you to keep working through the challenges and through those times when you feel like giving up and going back to your old lifestyle.

This article will provide a list of several different ways to help keep that motivation. Hopefully, these are some things that you can put into practice in your own life.

1. “Before” Pictures

Taking a picture of yourself at the start of the program is a part of many diet and exercise programs. While this may not sound like very much fun, it does give you a reference point that you can always go back to in order to see the changes that you are making. While the pictures may not be pretty, looking at them can be a great way to get a boost in motivation.

2. Track Your Progress

Whether you’re using a notebook to jot down the details of your exercise or keeping a personal journal through your experience, recording things in writing can make it easier for you to realize the progress that you are making. In many cases because the progress is not drastic, it seems that there is not that much progress being made. But with consistent effort and steady (even slow) improvements, overall progress can be quite encouraging.

3. Set Specific Goals That Can Be Measured

By having a specific goal you will have something in your mind that you are working towards. This can serve as motivation during those times when there is not much else to keep you going. In order for the goals to be effective, they should also be measurable and time-sensitive. A good example would be to lose 10 pounds in 2 months or 3 inches of your waist by the end of the year.

4. Workout with a Partner

Having someone else exercise with you is a great way to build accountability and motivation. Most people will not want to let down their friend by not showing up at the gym or giving up on the program, so having someone else that is counting on you can help. Also, two people working together towards their goals can serve as motivation and positive reinforcement.

5. Join a Group

Diet groups like Weight Watchers are effective because there is some added motivation in being part of a group. Wanting to make a good showing at a weigh in can help to keep you from breaking your diet. By being unified with others who have similar goals, you can all benefit from the others in the group.

6. Have a Why

In order for your diet or exercise program to really last and result in better long-term health, you’ll have to have a reason why you are working hard and making sacrifices. Maybe your why is because you are in physical risk if you do not lose weight. Or maybe you children are the reason that you are working hard. Whatever the case may be, it’s helpful to have a clear understanding of why you are doing what you are doing in order to stay motivated.

Crystal Wells enjoys writing about the things she has learned through her own weight loss journey. She blogs about diets. Her blog includes a review of Weight Watchers.

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Written by Crystal Wells on September 17th, 2009 with no comments.
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