What’s one of the most basic requirements for success on weight loss diets? It’s motivation. There isn’t a soul in the world who can successfully stick with weight loss diets that work without some sort of motivation. It’s necessary for success. Dieters who forget the importance of motivation often find themselves drifting away from the rules of the diet. And drifting away from the rules of any diet results in either decreased weight loss, no weight loss or even, in some cases, weight gain. Different types of motivation work for different dieters.
Motivation can be divided into two different types; internal and external. The healthier form of motivation is internal. Internal motivation is based upon personal needs and desires. Dieters depending upon internal motivation are losing the weight because they want to…for themselves. External motivation isn’t as healthy; although it can be just as effective depending upon the situation at hand. External motivation is more commonly referred to as guilt or peer pressure. Dieters depending upon external motivation are not losing weight for themselves; they are losing weight because they think other people want or expect them to.
Motivation can be found through several outlets:
1. pictures; before and after pictures can be the clearest motivation of all
2. weight loss journaling (some dieters find it advantageous to create video journals)
3. blogging (dieters are creating blogs dedicated to their weight loss efforts)
4. online social media sites (dieters can find motivation by interacting with others in similar positions)
5. Discussion of weight loss attempts through chat groups or online forums
There’s nothing quite as motivating as seeing the pounds drop off. But the next best motivation is the motivation that comes from online support. Seeing and hearing and chatting with people who are in the same situation makes dieters feel that they are doing something worthwhile. It makes them feel their successes more strongly and their small failures less severely. Motivation is the key that makes weight loss diets a probable success instead of just a possibility.
Amelia Handley majored in exercise science in college with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she’s found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.
