When you're attempting to lose weight, seeing your progress can be one of the strongest motivating factors to stick to a healthy diet and maintain daily physical activity. As you see your progress in the weight and inches you're losing, you'll be more likely to continue on your path to weight loss. Before you start, take your measurements and record your starting weight. As the numbers begin to fall, it will become a testament to your hard work and success.
Diet Blog
Food diaries can help you stay on track, but you may be more apt to continue your weight loss with others reading about your efforts. By tracking what you ate, how you felt when you exercised and your current stats online, you can join an online circle of diet bloggers for support. While recording your meals, exercise plans, thoughts and progress, ensure that you tell the truth, warns the website for the American Academy of Family Physicians. It can help you become accountable for your weight loss, while being transparent to your readers and not misleading them.
Weight Loss Contest
If you have several friends and family member who also want to lose weight, starting a weight loss competition can be a fun way to get everyone involved in living healthier lifestyles. Choose the parameters of the contest. For example, the County of Ventura Wellness Program suggests crowning a winner based on weight loss percentage rather than pounds lost in order to be fair to all participants. Then, give a timeline for the competition, including regular weigh-ins and prizes for those who lose the largest percentage of their starting weight.
Reward System
Your level of motivation can mean the difference between reaching your weight loss goals and slipping off the wagon in a moment of weakness. By setting up regular rewards and goals for yourself, you can track your weight loss while keeping yourself motivated to keep up the good work. Take out your calendar, and write weight loss goals on the days you hope to have accomplished them. Then give yourself small rewards for reaching small goals and large rewards for milestones. For example, give yourself a new pair of jeans when you lose a dress size, or take a vacation when you reach your goal weight.
Online Tracking
Certain websites allow you to enter your starting weight, goals and weekly weigh-ins into their tracking software to give you a quick analysis of your weight loss efforts. CNN.com nutrition specialist Melina Jopolis suggests using websites like FitDay.con and The Daily Plate ito plug in your meal plans, record your physical activities and track your weight loss so you can see a visual representation of your hard work and where your future effort can lead.
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