 Motivation key to weight loss
In my last article, I discussed some of the common reasons why people have difficulty losing weight. For those that are successful in sticking to their chosen plan and getting the weight off, there remains another hurdle: keeping it off. We know that those who tend to lose weight slowly also tend to keep the weight off versus those who crash diet and lose large amounts quickly. Certainly there are metabolic reasons for this, but I think that the reason the weight is lost slowly deserves a lot of the credit too.
Who do you think is more likely to maintain a weight loss: the person who makes livable lifestyle changes that can be continued throughout life or the person who wants to quickly lose 25–50 pounds for their high school reunion?
“Diets” are rarely successful in attaining weight loss and even less successful in maintaining it. The person who considers themselves “on a diet” already has a mental picture of a limited period of time in which they will follow their current food plan. The person who considers themselves someone who lives a healthy lifestyle has made a mental switch that is more likely to last a lifetime. And note, they are also more likely to have a longer lifetime.
When someone goes on a “diet” it is typically done with a fixed goal in mind. When that goal is reached, the old habits are picked up again and the weight comes right back on, usually with a few additional pounds. This yo-yo effect can actually hurt your body more than if you just left the weight on in the first place. Rarely does anyone go on a “diet” with their health in mind.
So, are the reasons you want to lose weight only skin deep, or are they much more fundamental? I spent years worrying about how I looked and focusing on the number on the scale or my pants size as my measurements of success. When I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, that all changed. When I considered what I was going to eat, I didn't care so much about what it would do to the scale, I was almost totally focused on what effect it was having on my body – the inside of my body.
My motivation to exercise was not a smaller jeans size or what I saw in the mirror. My motivation came from that number on the glucose monitor. With this new perspective, I found that making the right choices, losing weight and keeping it off became fairly simple. I focused on living healthy and the rest just fell into place.
Are you having trouble losing weight or maintaining a loss? If so, check your motivation. Try focusing on the inside and letting the outside take care of itself.
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