15 Ways to Get Motivated to Lose Weight

Losing weight can be difficult if you don’t have motivation.  Some people need motivation to get started.  Others don’t have a problem at the beginning.  They need it to keep going.  Whatever your reasons for needing it, here are 15 ways to get motivated to lose weight.

1. Give yourself a reward.  The reward can be as small or large as you want.  You could get a massage or buy a great pair of jeans when you hit a goal, anything that makes you work harder.
2. Work towards an event.  Having a time frame will help keep you motivated.  You could be working toward a wedding or a 5K marathon.  Use the event to keep you on track.
3. Get a workout buddy.  A buddy will keep you accountable.  It’s also harder to give someone else an excuse for not meeting them at the gym today.
4. Buy new workout clothes.  You may be surprised how well new workout clothes can make you feel.  Looking good can really motivate you to go keep working.
5. Build an energizing play list.  Music is very personal, so pick songs that will get you in gear and pump you up. 
6. Remind yourself why you want to lose weight.  Maybe you want to lose weight to be able to play with your kids more, or you could just want to fit back into your wedding dress.  Keep reminding yourself of your reasons for losing weight.
7. Track your progress.  Seeing your progress on paper can make it more real.  Make sure to include your measurements.  Seeing how many inches you’ve lost is usually more motivating than losing 2 pounds in a week.
8. Set realistic goals.  If your goals are unrealistic, you won’t be motivated to keep them.  Try to set small practical goals that you can achieve.  For instance, you could set a goal to go to the gym three times this week.  You’ll be so excited when you follow through.
9. Sign a contract with yourself.  It may seem silly, but putting your plan down on paper can keep you from quitting.  Make sure you have someone witness your signature to hold you accountable.
10. Keep a weight loss journal.  You can write down what you ate today, any exercise you completed, how you felt, or any success you had today.  Keeping a journal can be very helpful when you’re trying to lose weight.
11. Sign up for a class.  Being a part of a workout class can be more motivating than doing it on your own.  Find whatever you like whether it’s kickboxing or yoga and sign up.  You’re more likely to stay with something you enjoy.
12. Tell people.  You can tell your family, friends, and coworkers about your weight loss plan.  It’s disappointing when you have to tell someone you quit, so you’ll be more motivated to stick with it.
13. Do something fun while working out.  You could listen to music, watch your favorite television show, or even talk to your friends. 
14. Picture yourself thin.  Keep a mental image in your head of what you’re going to look like when you lose the weight.  You can picture what you’re going to wear and what you’re going to be doing.  Refer to this picture anytime you start to lose motivation.
15. Take pictures.  Pictures can be the ultimate motivation.  You may know what you look like, but it’s even worse when you see it in print.  It can also help you see your progress along the way.  Once you’ve lost the weight, you can keep a before picture to remind yourself of what you went through to get where you are.

These are just a few things you can do to get motivated.  Everyone is different, so you need to find out what will motivate you to stick to your weight loss plan.