| Why do so many of us fail or give up our | | | | you practise healthy eating habits. |
| efforts to lose weight? The reason is that we | | | | |
| pay too little attention to our emotions and | | | | 6. Share your gameplan |
| what drive us to eat unnecessarily. If you | | | | |
| are able to get a grip on these emotions, you | | | | Set up your support system and share with |
| have a better chance of success and losing | | | | those whom you think can encourage you in |
| weight and keeping it off. | | | | your weightloss effort. Decide what you want |
| | | | friends and family to do to encourage you. |
| Here's a motivation checklist: | | | | For example, remind them to be mindful of |
| | | | what or what not to offer you in terms of |
| 1. Make a commitment | | | | food. |
| | | | |
| As with every goal in life, make a commitment | | | | 7. Stop thinking little things have no |
| to lose weight that no matter what happens, | | | | calories |
| rain or shine, you are committed to make that | | | | |
| trip to the gym. Adopt that "I can do it" | | | | Sometimes we tend to forget little bites like |
| attitude and remember to draw on these | | | | a handful of potato chips, sweets, jelly |
| successes when the next time you are faced | | | | beans - are too small to have any calories. |
| with yet another challenge. | | | | They all add up. Think of how little |
| | | | satisfaction you get from these little bites |
| 2. Give yourself 10 good reasons | | | | and how they negate your effort to lose |
| | | | weight. Over time, you will adjust your |
| List 10 things that drive your weight-loss | | | | eating pattern and will no longer be tempted |
| desires, for example , "lower my cholesterol | | | | by these little distractions. |
| level" or "increase my energy level" or "fit | | | | |
| into that new bikini". Keep the list handy , | | | | 8. Post a note strategically |
| either in your purse, or at your desk where | | | | |
| you cannot miss it. When you suffer a dip in | | | | Put signs in your kitchen or refrigerator to |
| motivation, looking at the list will | | | | remind you, "what you are looking for is not |
| guarantee a recharge. | | | | here". Sometimes we have a tendency to |
| | | | overcome any emotional upset by eating. |
| 3. Downsize the less than healthy foods | | | | Instead go out and exercise and release the |
| | | | emotional baggage. That is guaranteed to make |
| Who says you cannot enjoy your life while | | | | you feel better than eating anyway. |
| dieting. The key is to eat in moderation all | | | | |
| the things that you love. Eat with awareness. | | | | 9. Recharge your motivation battery |
| If you must have your regular fix of icecream | | | | |
| or chocolate, plan your eating habit. | | | | There will be down times when you are in no |
| Establish how much you consume in a week, cut | | | | mood to exercise or cook healthy food. You |
| it by half or a third, either through size or | | | | might think it is easier to just order pizza. |
| frequency. | | | | It is time you revist your goals and remind |
| | | | yourself you got this far, so why blow it |
| 5. Practise never-miss-a-meal habit | | | | now. Just get up and run. |
| | | | |
| It is a fact and reality that whenever we | | | | 10. Celebrate the smallest of victories |
| skip meals and become extremely hungry and | | | | |
| sluggish, we tend to grab any food to satisfy | | | | Focus on your successes, no matter how small |
| hunger for example potato chips or some | | | | they are. Write them down and put the list |
| snacks. Or we could gobble down in larger | | | | where you can see them to motivate you. You |
| volume for the next meal. So the lesson here | | | | will feel gratified and happy that you have |
| is to ensure you never miss your healthy | | | | made achievements and will encourage you to |
| meals. Imagine the energy that you get when | | | | increase your successes. |