You know that your clothes are getting too tight, but you just can't seem to find the motivation to change your eating habits and shed the pounds. People can struggle with motivation to lose weight because, often, the reasons they consider are simply not compelling enough. Consider some of the problems that being overweight can cause in your life to gain the motivation you need in order to act.
Health Complications
Obesity causes more chronic medical issues than heavy drinking or smoking, according to Penn State Hershey Obstetrics and Gynecology. Even if you're not obese, you're not off the hook. Simply being overweight increases the likelihood that you will encounter a serious health problem over the years. Individuals with a BMI over 25 are at risk for developing heart disease, some types of cancer and diabetes. Even when not fatal, these diseases cause a decrease in the quality of life for individuals who have them. When it comes to losing weight, your life may be at stake. This knowledge can often be far more motivating than fitting into a pair of skinny jeans.
Discrimination
Health may trump fitting into that pair of jeans you've had since college, but that doesn't mean that appearance isn't important. There is evidence that obesity can lead to discrimination in the workplace, according to Andrea E. Chernov at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Further, Chernov notes that there also is evidence that overweight people are less likely to get prompt service in restaurants and may be perceived in negative ways by their thinner peers. Knowing that the discrimination you experience as an overweight person is not just in your head can be a powerful incentive to lose weight so that you can be more competitive in the work force.
Lifestyle
When you need to lose weight, it is tempting to pass up invitations to parties and other gatherings because of the difficulty finding attractive clothes to wear and the social anxiety that can accompany worrying about what others will say about your weight gain. You also may avoid many activities because they are too taxing, passing up invitations to accompany friends on camping trips and other active adventures. If you want to have more social confidence and enjoy a wider range of activities, losing weight can help you to achieve those goals.
Make a List
After you've thought about the things that could motivate you, write the ones that are the most important to you down, and hang it on your bathroom mirror, recommends Radford University weight loss consultant Susan Brodnax. Doing so will help to keep the impetus for your weight loss at the forefront of your mind. Each time you are tempted to wait another week to begin your diet, or give up on losing weight altogether, read your list for a renewed burst of motivation.
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