We've all been there, wanting to lose weight. Trying hundreds of various approaches with no success.
For those of you who don't know me,
I'm Toni Fine. I started fitness ten years ago. And over this time, I have been everything in between a cross fitter, marathoner, and yoga enthusiast.
Despite all of this activity, I was overweight most of my life. And as someone who has been in your shoes, I know how hard it is to stay motivated.
So today, I will share with you the 7 tricks I learned that helped me to stay motivated during my weight loss journey.
1. I was constantly setting SMART goals!
Setting goals was a crucial part of my weight loss journey because setting small targets is more significant in the long term. It will help you more than just trying to lose weight without any goal.
The way I did, it was by using something called the SMART method.
This stands for:
Specific - Set goals that are not vague. I was setting specific goals; for example, saying, "I will increase my workout time by 10 minutes each day." is way better than just saying, "I will work out more."
Measurable - I was setting goals that I could easily track. For example, increasing the number of minutes I work out, the number of exercises I do, etc.
Attainable - The goals I was setting were easily achievable. For example, I would gradually increase my workout time instead of setting a goal of working out for 1 hour and trying to reach it on the first day.
Relevant - The goals I was setting were related to what I desired. For example, increasing exercise time is relevant to weight loss, but trying to read more books is not. Your goals should be tied to what you want to achieve.
Time-bound - I was setting a deadline for each goal. That way, I could hold myself accountable if I did not achieve it in that time.
2. Following a meal plan
A meal plan is essential, especially at the beginning of your weight loss journey.
When I started, I had no idea how to lose weight, and my meal plan was what helped me the most.
A successful diet should be enjoyable and sustainable. A restrictive diet that leaves you feeling deprived will eventually lead you back to your old habits. It is very important to find a meal plan that works for you.
And I know how hard that can be, so that's why on my website, I have various meal plans that you can choose from.
You can pick what suits you the best and get started right away!
3. Finding a friend
During my weight loss journey, I learned that reaching any goal is easier with the support of friends, family members, or a community with similar goals. You can talk to them, learn from their experience, and get encouraged to reach your goal.
This is why I created FineFit to give you all a community you can talk to that will always help and encourage you to reach your goals.
4. Practicing mindfulness
Mindfulness means paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and body sensations and how these influence your actions.
Mindfulness taught me to slow down, acknowledge my feelings, and filter out distractions.
I used to tell myself things like:
"Think about how your meal tastes, how it feels on your tongue, and what your favorite part of the food is."
This helped me to stop eating too quickly and not to overeat. I was also more present in the moment.
5. Adjusting my environment
I found that the surroundings helped me make healthy choices for my weight loss.
What I did was:
I would stock my fridge with fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein.
I used to lay out my workout clothes before bed so that I had the motivation to work out when I woke up.
When going out, all the restaurants I chose had only healthy dishes. That way, I could not get tempted to eat something that would affect my progress negatively.
Another thing I did was prepare a grocery list of things I needed to buy. That way, I cut down on buying junk food on impulse.
6. Making my workout fun
I know that working out can be challenging, so I always try to find a way to make my workouts more entertaining for me.
For example, what you can do is:
Let's say you enjoy dancing. You can go on the internet and find a dance workout and do that instead.
Or, if you enjoy walking, you can try increasing your walk's pace and distance.
You should not be afraid to try new types of workouts until you find something you enjoy
7. Forgiving yourself
Losing weight was a complex process, and I often experienced plateaus and even a few weight gains.
Sometimes I did not have time to meal prep, or maybe it was someone's birthday, and I wanted to have a slice of cake.
In moments like this, it was crucial to forgive myself because staying committed is more important than trying to be perfect every day.
It's all about staying motivated. No motivation, no weight loss. Staying motivated can be tricky; even if you know how to lose weight, sometimes your mind will find millions of excuses not to do it. But that's why you must learn to stay motivated and avoid going down the rabbit hole of negative thinking.