Losing weight – how to stay motivated?

They are always the grandest plans. Resolutions made, gear bought, enrollments and time slots fixed, the fabulous rush of the first couple of weeks. And then? In settles the will-catch-up-later syndrome. And even before one could wink, come back the old habits.

If this sounds familiar to you, welcome to the wannabe-fitness-freaks club. And let us assure, you might not be short of company here. Well, the only glitch is the constant drive down the guilt lane. That leads to depressiondefine.

So what is the solution? Is there indeed a saint-like focused attitude that is a prerequisite for achieving any fitness goals one might have? How to stop faltering midway or worse, lose track completely?

We give you some methods to ace the diet and exercise dilemma. Believe us, these have been self-tested and hence the result of a lot of trial and error.

1. Be realistic. Most people seeking to lose weight fail because they nurse too ambitious aspirations. The answer is, therefore, to think backwards. Start with the desirable target weight in clear terms. Do not say, “ I want to lose some weight” or “ I want to be able to fit into the jeans I bought two winters ago”. Your ideal weight depends on age, height and lifestyle.

Once you know the weight to strive for, plan to lose weight in small increments. Remember,” Rome was not built in a day”. Fitness experts attribute loss of interest in many aspirants to the lack of persistence. You would not see miraculous results right away. But, if you are patient and disciplined enough, you would see the flab melt away and the muscles getting stronger and a general sense of well being. Aim to lose about 1 to 1.5 lbs per month.

2. Keep crunching the numbers. The trick behind this advice is it gives one a sense of accomplishment. If you put a numerical value to any task, it is easier to measure and judge. In weight loss arena, tell yourself, “ I will exercise for 30 minutes” or “ I will do aerobics three days a week and walk for four days”. This gives you better control over your weight loss plans.

3. Surround yourself with positive vibes. Obviously, you would need a lot of support from others – friends or family. Tell them about your plans and you do not need to be ashamed. It is essential in the case of those who have pre-existing medical conditions or are older. Knowledgeable help is available in case of emergencies. It is good when you know you have enthusiastic backing for your efforts.

4. You cannot have one without the other. Diet and exercise are like Siamese twins. So, do not buy the myth you could lose weight by just hard exercise while you hog or that skimping on food alone will get you the hourglass figure.

5. ACT! While most of what we have told you so far is the ‘mind thing’, no amount of positive affirmation or autosuggestion would work unless you make measured and sustained efforts.

6. Reward yourself. Pace your rewards at important milestones by marking on the calendar. Once you reach the point, go ahead and enjoy.

7. Sustain. This is where self-discipline plays a major part. Ok, you have lost weight, but it is important to maintain the state. You may switch to some other activity that gives the same amount of exercise and works towards weight management. Do not hesitate to get professional advice in this regard.