How to Stay Motivated During Weight Loss

Staying motivated to lose weight can be a challenge, especially if you've been struggling to see progress. However, motivation is key to achieving your weight loss goals, and there are strategies that can help you find and maintain it… because, let’s face it – staying motivated every single day is impossible. There are days you won’t feel like getting up and going on that walk or eating that fruit instead of that tempting piece of candy bar on the kitchen table. 

What we need to learn is how to get motivated to lose weight and why it can be challenging to find the motivation to lose weight. Before we get started, let’s try to understand why we can’t seem to do what we know we have to do:

Why Can't I Find the Motivation to Lose Weight?

For many people in their weight loss journey, plenty of them already know what to do but they just can’t seem to do it. Of course we know that fruits are good and sweets are bad. A lot of the messages we’re getting are very simplistic – But the problem is more complex than that. 

Often, overweight people are simply told, “Stop eating that! Exercise more!” and perhaps they will start but it’s also possible that they will lose motivation and stop. And it’s an awful feeling – When you know what you should be doing, you know what you want to be, you know what you don't want to be. You know what you've got to do, but you can't seem to be able to do it.

We can compare it to a train going the opposite direction. And when it comes into a station, when you have an opportunity to do something, either you stay where you are, just you know how to get up, and you know you should get up, but you can't seem to get up. Or even if you do, you manage to get up, you get off the train, and then you get on the next train still moving in the wrong direction. 

That's the feeling of being out of control. And we always say at BodySlims that the first weight you lose is that monkey off your back. When we get people moving on a train in the right direction, regardless of what speed they're going at, it’s still an important step towards the right direction. Speeds are unimportant since everyone moves at their own pace. 

We, as people, are directional. If you want to lose 40 lbs, by the time you've lost two or three, you already start to feel amazingly better. Are you where you want to go, your goal? No. But just moving in the direction that we want to go completely changes how we feel. So it’s very important to process all of these to get started. 

And we can start the processing by trying to find the root of the problem. What can be factors causing you to lose motivation? Or what are the factors keeping you overweight or unhealthy? 

• Past failures: If you've attempted to lose weight in the past and were not successful, it can be hard to find the motivation to try again. Perhaps you’ve signed up for a gym but quit halfway. It's important to remember that weight loss is a journey and it takes time.

• Lack of support: Without a support system, it can be challenging to stay motivated and on track with your weight loss goals.

• Negative self-talk: Negative thoughts and self-talk can make it difficult to stay motivated and positive.

• Life events: Life events such as stress, illness, or a change in circumstances can make it hard to focus on weight loss. This can be very complex as you have experienced trauma or other distressing events that caused you to start picking up unhealthy habits. 

• Unrealistic expectations: Setting unrealistic goals and expectations can lead to disappointment and demotivation. Saying you want to lose half of your weight in two months may be a stretch so keep in mind that setting goals has to be attainable and realistic too. 

Of course, these are just some of the possible reasons. It's important to remember that finding the motivation to lose weight is not always easy, but it is possible. Be kind to yourself and focus on making small changes that you can maintain in the long-term. Remember that weight loss is a journey, not a destination, and the most important thing is to keep moving forward.

How Do I Get Motivated to Lose Weight?

Here are a few strategies that can help you find the motivation to lose weight:

Set realistic and attainable goals

Having specific, measurable goals can give you something to work towards and help you stay motivated. This is because you’re not setting yourself up for failure. Be sure to set goals that are realistic and attainable, and break them down into smaller, more manageable steps.

Track properly and celebrate small milestones

Speaking of attainable goals, make sure to track your progress. By doing this, you can see your progress over time. 

For example, keep a record of how many kilos you managed to lose per week. And no matter how small that number is, pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself on the small wins. You can even give yourself a non-food reward for reaching a milestone or achieving a goal. 

This will keep you motivated to continue working towards your next goal. By acknowledging these milestones, you’re mentally preparing yourself that you’re ready for the next challenge! 

Create a plan

Having a plan of action can help you stay on track and motivated. This might include setting specific workout and meal plans, creating a schedule, and tracking your progress.

If you’re not confident in making your own plan, you can also consult the professionals like weight coaches or joining a weight loss programme. 

Surround yourself with support

Having a support system can make the weight loss journey easier. Surround yourself with people who will encourage and support you, whether that's friends, family, or a support group.

Stay positive

Keep a positive attitude and focus on the progress you've made rather than any setbacks. Remember that weight loss is a journey and progress may not always be linear, but with hard work and determination, you can achieve your goals.

Have the right guides and choosing an effective, tried-and-tested programme

All the suggestions we have outlined here are just the tip of the iceberg. You may need to unpack a lot of things as you begin or restart your journey to a healthier you. As we have mentioned before, if you doubt that you can stay motivated on your own, your best bet is to join a weight loss programme known for great results and a supportive community. 

By joining the BodySlims program, not only will you find new knowledge, but you will also learn a framework or format that is challenging and interesting to get you over the slump. 

So if you’re feeling unmotivated, stuck, and you know what you need to do but couldn’t do it, you have our sympathy. But you also have our assurance that this is an issue that can be addressed, and we certainly seek to address it on BodySlims. Not convinced? Just take a look at our many success stories. 

BodySlims’ ten-week weight loss programme can be done anywhere in the world but you won’t feel that distance because of how the programme is structured: it offers seminars, a calorie-controlled personalised diet plan, weekly support comms, exclusive video content, and so much more!

Sign up for the next intake to keep motivated!