You can lose weight if you set your mind to it! Are you ready to take action to achieve the body of your dreams? The biggest barriers you face are actually your self-discipline and willpower. You may have fallen into a vicious cycle, and the cycle starts with eating a poor diet that’s full of fats, carbs, and processed foods – these are the kinds of foods that will make you feel tired and lethargic all the time. Then, because your body lacks sufficient energy, you don’t feel much like exercising.
What’s the end result? You end up with a huge loss of willpower, and you feel miserable and hopeless, but there is hope! You can make the change! If you truly want to lose weight, you first have to build the willpower to make it happen. Here’s a list of things to consider when boosting your willpower.
1Don’t Wait For Something Bad To Happen
Your willpower is within you, and you don’t want something bad to happen in order to find it. We’ve all heard the stories about someone experiencing severe trauma, like a heart attack, and how that life event leads to a permanent change in their habits. You don’t need this to happen to you in order to get motivated!
2Watch Your Portion Size
This is one tip that can allow you to start small. It’s hard to muster up the willpower if you’re trying to go from one extreme to another. Decide that you’re going to have the same meal tonight that you would normally eat, but give yourself a smaller portion size. The trick is to use smaller plates, so the plate visually appears full.
3Give Yourself A Cheat Day
It’ll be an easier transition for you if you allow yourself some fun once in a while. Tell yourself that you can enjoy that pizza for dinner or that chocolate cake for dessert next Saturday. You’ll be less likely to give up, knowing that you can eat some pizza next Saturday instead of “never.”
Your “cheat” day doesn’t mean “overeat” day. Savor the flavors of your food, even if it means having a smaller piece than you’re used to. Once you’ve finished your piece, your willpower should kick in and say “no more!”
4Take Photographs
You can motivate yourself to lose weight by taking some self-portraits. We usually don’t have the best idea about how we truly look until we see ourselves in a photograph. Keep a picture with you and look at it when you feel like giving up. Update your photo often and compare them as you start to lose weight.
5Make A Food List
Write down all the foods you enjoy eating, then evaluate whether or not these items are healthy. The chances are that there are at least some healthy foods that you actually enjoy eating, such as fruits and vegetables. Make sure that you start buying these foods for your home.
6Exercise Moderation
Adding exercise to your routine can also be a daunting task if you try to jump in too fast. Nobody is telling you that you need to join a gym and engage in rigorous workouts if that’s not your style. You’ll actually be surprised at how energized you can feel just by taking a 30-minute walk three times a week.
No matter how you choose to approach your weight loss, it’s important to take small steps and remain in good spirits. Doing too much or doing something too fast will only set you up for failure. Instead, set small, manageable goals, like one pound per week. By focusing on the smaller, more attainable goal, you’ll actually see results far more quickly.
In the end, remember to reward yourself for a job well done. After all, you deserve it! Once you have mustered the willpower to succeed at weight loss, you can succeed at anything in your life!
Arlene Garretson is a proud resident of Daytona Beach, Florida, mother, and author. When she isn't writing about self-help, she enjoys hiking and photography: a great combination.
