how does one stay motivated while trying to lose weight?
597892
By a nice outfit, very expensive and make sure it's a few sizes too small and tell yourself you are going to wear this to a certain event and show off to everyone.
562534
Here are 25 great weight dropping tips!\n\nEating Tips\n\nGood things come in small packages. Here's a trick for staying satisfied while still keeping portions under control: Cut high-calorie foods like cheese and chocolate into smaller pieces. It will seem like you're getting more than you actually are.\n\n\nDon't give up dips. If you love creamy dips and sauces, don't cut them out of your diet completely. Just use low-fat sour cream or mayo instead of the full-fat stuff.\n\n\nGet water-wise. Make a habit of reaching for a glass of water instead of a high-calorie snack. It will help your overall health as well as your waistline. Add some zest with a twist of lemon or lime.\n\n\nHerb it up. Stock up your spice rack, and start growing a small herb garden in your kitchen window. Spices and herbs add fantastic flavor to foods without adding fat or calories.\n\n\nSlim down your soup. Make a big batch of soup and refrigerate it before you eat it. As it cools, the fat will rise to the top. Skim it off the surface for reduced fat content.\n\n\nDoggie-bag that dinner. At restaurants, ask the server to put half your entrée in a doggie bag before bringing it to your table. Putting the food away before you start your meal will help you practice portion control.\n\n\nListen to your cravings. If you're craving something sweet, eat something sweet — just opt for a healthier nosh, like fruit, instead of a high-calorie one. The same goes for crunchy cravings — for example, try air-popped popcorn with soy sauce instead of high-fat tortilla chips. It's just smart substitution!\n\n\nEase your way into produce. If you're new to eating lots of fruits and veggies, start slowly. Just add them to the foods you already enjoy. Pile veggies on top of your sandwiches, or add fruit to your cereal.\n\n\nLook for high-fat hints. Want an easy way to identify high-calorie entrees? Keep an eye out for these words: au gratin, parmigiana, tempura, alfredo, creamy and carbonara, and enjoy them in moderation.\n\n\nDon't multitask while you eat. If you're working, reading or watching TV while you eat, you won't be paying attention to what's going into your mouth — and you won't be enjoying every bite. Every time you sit down for a meal, sit down. Chew slowly and pay attention to flavors and textures. You'll enjoy your food more and eat less.\n\n\nTaste something new. Broaden your food repertoire — you may find you like more healthy foods than you knew. Try a new fruit or vegetable. (Ever had jicama, plantain, bok choy, starfruit or papaya?)\n\n\nLeave something on your plate at every meal. One bite of bagel, half your sandwich, the bun from your burger. See if you feel satisfied eating just a bit less.\n\n\nGet to know your portion sizes. It's easy to underestimate how much you're eating. Don't just estimate things — make sure. Ask how much is in a serving, read the fine print on labels, measure your food. And learn portion equivalents: One serving of pasta, for instance, should be around the size of a tennis ball.\n\n\nMake a healthy substitution. Learn to swap healthier foods for their less-healthful counterparts. Find a substitution that works for you: Use skim milk instead of whole milk; make up a batch of brownie mix with applesauce instead of oil; try a whole-grain bread instead of white.\n\n\nBring lunch to work. Packing lunch will help you control your portion sizes. It also provides a good alternative to restaurants and fast-food joints, where making healthy choices every day can be challenging (not to mention expensive).\n\n\nHave some dessert. You don't have to deny yourself all the time. Have a treat that brings you pleasure, but this time enjoy it guilt-free — be sure you're practicing portion control, and compensate for your indulgence by exercising a little more or by skipping your afternoon snack.\n\n\nAsk for what you need. Tell your mother-in-law you don't wan
645930
Take this from a woman that went from 300 pounds to 167 in under a year from pregnancy and classic overeating...it's hard work!\n\nPut on a tiny bikini once a week. and measure yourself. As you go down in weight and inches it will start to look better and better. The better you feel the less stress you have the easier it is to eat right and work out.\n\nAbout running... don't like it don't do it. It's not worth it if you aren't going to do it for a Legnth of time. Simply get a good friend and go for a fast walk for about 1.5 hours... yea I'm serious but the time will fly by and the pounds will melt off. It's not about the distance it's about keeping your cardio up and doing it for a good length of time. Maybe you can start running a little here and there to tone up your legs but it isn't your only option.\n\nKeep a journal of what you eat and when,  when you notice you aren't losing it as fast as you were look back on your journal and see why. Maybe you aren't being as strict as you should be. Think about your journal as though everything you eat will be seen by it and will broadcast around the world for everyone to see. It will help you not eat everything you can. Be sure to write it down though that is key! You will hit plateaus, it happens then you have to either cut back or work out more.\n\nAdd muscle training. It can be as easy as a butt workout on the treadmill or a bunch of push ups and sit ups. Be it in the weight room or on the couch work your muscles. This will burn some calories and help you tone up.\n\nEat what your body needs first! Lots of protien and steamed veggies. Stick to fresh fruit and wheat rice. Make it look pretty and you won't have to dread it quite so much. Treat yourself every once in a while to a little low cal ice cream or a mousse which is also a low cal dessert. \n\ni hope this helps a little bit. Good luck!
117923
Motivation and Consistency are key. Just keep telling yourself that's the only way to achieve your goal, and you will naturally be more motivated.
564743
You are already off to a good start if you are eating healthfully and exercising. One of the best things you can do is stop focusing so much on the weight loss. The weight loss should only be secondary to being healthy and doing the best you can for your body and mind. You are bound to get frustrated when weight loss is your only focus. We then become "slaves" to the scale--obsessing about the number instead of realizing we feel better because we are getting moving and fueling our bodies with healthy food. Just keep variety in your diet, and in your exercising as well. That way you can always be excited about exercising. You won't get bored that way. You should be proud of yourself for taking care of your body! Good luck!
1085907
kEEP EATING HEALTHY YOU WILL BE FINE\n\nA FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:\nThe correct way to burn fat and stay healthy is to burn more calories than you consume\nYou need to make sure you are eating healthy foods while still excercising\nIf you have a big appetite drink plenty of water so that you will feel full but not consume calories\nBut you should always eat\nIf you start to skip meals you will only be more hungry at your next meal and probably eat way too much\nRemember, the average persons stomach is as big as a slice of pizza scrunched up into a ball\nSo you shouldnt be putting more food into your stomach than what fits\nAlso, it takes aproximately 15-20 minutes for your brain to realize that you are full\nso eat slower and you will realize sooner when you are not hungry anymore\n\nALSO....\ni found this artical called "50 Habits of "Naturally Thin" People\nHow to get Started:Decide how much you want to loose and see how many calories a day it will take to make it happen by year's end.Then, work into your routines however many of these eating tweaks and exercises you need to achieve your goal.\nSlash 250 cal.s a day to lose about 25 lbs. in a year, Slash 500 cal.s to loose 50 pounds.\nThis is based on a 150-pound person: you may need to cut more/ fewer calories depending on ur weight, age & gender. It also assumes your normal calorie intake essentially stays the same and your weight is stable.\n* I'm only going to give you the ones that are most helpful and burn calories. If you want more then email me*\n1.Wake-up Workout - When your eyes open, sit up slwoly w/out using ur hands. W/ legs straight out, lean forward until u feel a gentle stretch in ur back & hamstrings. Hold. Then, Using ur abs, lower urself flat. Rest & repeat 2 more times. BURNS 10\n2. Balance Booster - While u brush ur teeth, alternate standing on 1 leg as u switch mouth quadrants(every 30 seconds). BURNS 10\n3.Be a Ballerina - As ur coffee drips, stand sideways, put 1 hand on the counter, and lift the outside leg straigh out in front of u, keeping it extended. With upper body straight, hold for a few sec.s and move it to the side: hold and extend it behind u. Do 5x on each leg. BURNS 10\n4. Talk It UP - Every time u grab the phone, stand up & pace around. BURNS 50\n5. Carry Some Weight - When ur grocery Shopping/ running erands, wear a backpack with 5-10 lbs bag of sugar inside to increase resistance & burn more calories. Add purchases to ur load as it becomes easier. BURNS 20 (FOR AN HOUR OF ERRANDS)\n6.Pump at the Pump - While ur getting gas, With 1 hand on ur car, Stand on the balls of ur feet & slowly rise up & down for as long as it takes to fill ur tank. BURNS 10\n7. Shop till the Pounds Drop - at the mall try on at least 10 outfits- pants and shirts.BURNS 60\n8. Jog for Junk Mail - For every piece of junk mail u get each day, do 1 lap around ur house/ building, / up & down a flight of stairs. BURNS 35-140\n9. Play Footsie - After Dinner, while u are sitting at the table, extend your right leg out & slowly bend it up & down, squeezing & holding in the up position for at least 5 sec.s. Repeat 5x for each leg. BURNS 10\n10.Ease into Evening - sitting with feet uncrossed, grab ur wrists & raise ur hands above ur head to lengthen the spine. Take a deep breath in as u reach & hold the position, breathing slowly in & out for 20 sec.s, taking longer on the exhale. BURNS 5\n11. Sing a Song - Spend sunday morning belting it out in the church choir. BURNS 70 PER SERVICE\n12. Catch This! -\nSpend 30 min tossing a ball or a frisbee with ur kid/dog BURNS 90\n13. Make Whoopee - Instead of a bowl of ice cream as a bedtime snack, have a robust tussle with your spouse. BURNS 300\n\nGood Luck!!
593716
Be your own trainer and nutritionist, the basic rules to losing weight are no soda, no fast food, lots of chicken, fish, fruits, vegies, whole wheat stuff, yogurt. Not so many cakes and donuts and cookies. Basic common sense for eating, you just need to enforce it. Get all the bad stuff out of the house right away, just toss it or give it away while your still motivated. No alcohol if that applies. Some juice but make sure its all natural, because the ones that aren't are loaded with sugar and a leading cause in diabetes in children and adults. Lots of water, 3-4 liters a day, not all at once, but spread out. Its really easy to down a liter or two while your watching tv or on the computer. Also drink some after you eat the bigger meals of the day, it helps your body pick out the nutrients in food when your food is more spread apart.  These rules may be hard to adapt to at first so start with cutting out the things you know you can live without.  Then work to there.  Remember these are  perfect eating habits, it can take you a while to work into it.  If you know you can’t live without your one treat a day, don’t fight it by trying to eat something else, just eat it and make sure that’s the only one you cheat on a day.  Otherwise you’ll get depressed and quit.\nAs for exercise, lots of cardio. Find something you like. If you have never exercised much before, start with walking 30 minutes a day at a brisk pace. Move on to different terrains that include hills and increase the time spent. After a week or two, try jogging the route. No matter what find an activity you enjoy. Walking to jogging is just an example, try hiking, rollerblading, biking. Once you get into a regular routine, if your not happy with the level of difficulty, try signing up with a gym. Spinning, pilates or kickboxing classes are great. It will also introduce you to working with weights. Talk to a trainer for instruction before using any weights. A cheap investment is a balance ball, it works you stomach while your just sitting on it, like at your computer and its great for posture. There are hundreds of exercises you can use it for for your entire body. I can give you some ideas if you want, just email me. Also for more info on the benefits of water go to www.watercure.com Good Luck!
468636
start by walking first off..don't worry about eating healthy, that will come in due time.  increase your walking weekly and about week 3-4 start changing your eating habits.  \n\nThe secret to losing weight/ staying in shape is to be persistant.  if you miss a day, don't worry about it, just keep moving!\n\nGood luck
310902
Here are some tips:\n\n-Do moderate excercise everyday.\n-Try to avoid junk food\n-Find time to relax\n-Drink lots and lots of water, because this will wash out any toxins and fatty stuff that can accumalate and add weight\n-Do not oversleep; don't be slack and tired. Be as energetic as you can and this will help you lose weight and be positive about yourself\n-Smile as often as you can. Sure, it doesn't really help you lose weight; it just makes you look more nicer, and sometimes slimmer and prettier\n-Instead of 'dieting', eat as many fruits as you can till lunchtime, then eat veggies, bread and meat.\n-When you are seriously hungry, but it's not time for lunch or dinner, eat fruits. I know fruits can be repetitive and boring; but it can really help in cleaning your system, and because it contains high water content, it will reduce the amount of energy you eat, therefore less is converted to fat.
1032746
Seeing results. Sometimes I feel hopeless as hell, especially now that summer time is here. And I have these weird days where I exercise alot and eat less but then I lose nothing. The problem is you need to keep it up. If I do that for like 4-6 days and then I see a pound or two lost, just that number on the scale motivates me becasue it tells me it IS possible to lose weight. The smaller the number becomes the more motivated I am to work out becasue I see it's actually doing something. \n\nAlso, it's the toned body look. Seeing fit people just makes me want to look like them.
1021819
Believe it or not, exercising increases your motivation to stick with a diet. Lots of women binge eat or overeat due to stress or emotions (or hormones) and exercise short circuits this response more successfully than pills and other mediums. \n\nIf you want to stick to a diet, start exercising regularly - at least 3 times a week for an hour each time - and make 20 minutes of each workout weight training. Even better, add one session of yoga a week to your exercise regime and this will help enormously (the calming effect of yoga enables women (in particular) to control their weight more effectively).
1112017
Just a little feedback even though i'm not a member of any fitness clubs. But i remember coming across magazines regarding issues somewhat similar to yours. Some suggestions to maintain your motivation and eagerness to exercise is to sign up for classes (if they have any). Have an aim to work for (such as reasonable weight and body fat at the end of the month). Working out 3 times a week is sufficient. Not forgetting that your body will start burning fats after 20 minutes of workout. \n\nBe determined to reach your goal. You can also listen to your favourite music or radio station while working out. Especially on the trendmill, fast songs will encourage your mind and body to run faster and vice versa.\n\nEngaging the services of a PT helps you to use the gym equipments correctly and using them effectively to reach your desired achievement. Borrowing books from the library saves you the costs but having a PT is more hands-on. Having a PT or a gym partner motivates you to visit the gym regularly as you're not alone.\n\nExercising helps you to destress and everytime you exercise, your body produces endorphins that makes you happy. Have you ever recalled being moody and out-of-sorts after your exercise? That is your motivation and eagerness to exercise.
8407
Congratulations on your weightloss thus far! \n\nI lost 55 pounds once. I hit a couple of nasty plateaus. Here are some strategies I used to get over them:\n\n- Break out the measuring cups and spoons and food scale again. I tended to get lazy about measuring my food over time. While on a plateau I forced myself to measure everything that went into my mouth that wasn't already pre-packaged and labeled with nutritional information.\n\n- Try a different type of workout. If I'd been doing the exercise bike regularly, instead of pushing myself harder on the bike and getting frustrated, I'd move to a different machine - the stair stepper, elliptical, or rower. My body wouldn't be as used to the other machines - they'd work out different muscles so I wouldn't have to push myself as hard and would get more benefit.\n\n- Re-examine the reasons why you want to lose weight. Cut out some pictures from magazines of how you'd like to look, and also break out pictures of how you looked before your weightloss, and stick them on the fridge and food cabinets. It'll remind you of how you don't want to become and where you really want to be at the time you're making a judgement about what foods to eat.\n\n- Wear a pair of jeans that is really tight around your waist. (around the house probably is best ;-) ). It'll make you think about your stomach more and motivate you to eat less and work out more. \n\n- Limit the amount of times you eat out per week, or if you eat out, have them bring out a take-home box when they bring out your food so you can spoon out half to take home right away so it's not sitting there on your plate tempting you while you eat.
1137959
These tips work very well for most\n\nSNACK ON SOUP.  Water-based soups don't contain many calories and are a great way to fill up-staving off your craving for a big meal or at least slowing you down if you do load your plate.\n\nAvoid chugging calories. Downing regular soda, juice, and milk are all ways to consume a lot of calories quickly and without feeling satiated. Instead, learn to like plain old water. To make it more palatable, try adding a bit of calorie-free green-tea extract. \n\nTaper your meals. A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that people who ate most of their daily food intake earlier in the day and consumed smaller and smaller portions as the day went on ate less overall than people who ate consistently sized meals over a 24-hour period.\n\nFidget. Play with a ball while you talk on the phone. Bounce your knees. Whatever works for you. A classic study in the journal Science reported that people who frequently shift their posture weigh less than those who stay put. The reason: Burning five extra calories here and there adds up, helping fidgeters create something researchers (appropriately enough) call NEAT-Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (fat loss without direct exercise).\n\nTurn off the machines. When you're working out, opt for free weights over machines. They activate more muscle when you lift, burning more calories and causing greater strength gains.\n\nDon't bug in bulk. It's a good strategy when it comes to toilet paper, but the more food you pack into your fridge at once, the more likely you are to eat it right away.\n\nLilt heavier. If your dumbbells are pink and allow you to "bang out" 20-plus reps without breaking a sweat, they're not challenging your muscles, and you won't lose fat.\n\nWeigh in. Studies show that weighing yourself daily improves your healthy and motivation. Of course, a scale doesn't decipher between fat and a lean body, so use a mirror to monitor changes in your appearance, as well.\n\nEat slower. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes for the stomach to sense it's full. If you chow down like a starved sled dog, you'll likely out-eat your hunger level, packing in more calories than your body needs before it s had a chance to even register that you're full.\n\nPack ahead. Most people give up their diet because they're pressed for time. Avoid the problem by making your meals for the work week ahead on Sunday afternoon. That way, you'll have a good supply of healthy food ready and waiting, and you won't run out of options or be forced to hit the vending machine.\n\nDip a fork in salad dressing, instead of pouring the dressing directly onto the greens. This gives you max control over how many calories of dressing you get in each bite.\n.\n.
575067
Cut out snacks. Do more aerobic excersize (running, swimming, etc.). Some people swear to caffiene, but personally, I don't think it helps much. You can still eat the same foods, but eat less overall. Celery is always good (it takes more calories to eat than it provides).\n\n[Edit]\nDon't get discouraged if you don't start to lose weight right away. Your body will try really hard to stay at the same weight at first. Oh, and while you may not be able to lose 20 pounds, you can lose up to 15 depending on how much you cut down on fatty and sugary foods.\n\nDon't starve yourself though. When you do, your body goes into a mode where it sucks every last calorie out of food, and that will only make you lose weight.
249825
everyone knows...  work out and eat healthy, but no one can do that for very long, so i suggest getting a personal trainer to help u stay motivated
461057
Slow and steady DOES win this race!!!  I lost 10-15kg about 6yrs ago and went from a 16 to a 8/10 (Aussie sizes)  I'm now a 12 and am still very happy!\n\nYou sound like you are more than ready to begin this change - you certainly have the desire to do it!  Starting is by far the hardest part of the weight loss process.  Once you get healthy habits going, it's surprisingly easy to maintain them.  You need to find a way to give yourself that inital push or get someone to help you do it.\n\nI suggest you set a date to start your new healthy lifestyle - say to yourself "I am going to change my life and I am going to begin today.  I will not look back because this is something I am doing to better myself."  \n\n\nConsider consulting a nutritionist - they'll be able to help you understand why you binge eat and create healthy eating habits as well as eating plans.  I suggest you also consult your regular GP and find out the state of your health - blood pressure etc.  You don't want to push yourself too far too fast because that will most likely make you lose your motivation.\n\nYou have to accept that you are going to have to be selfish to a degree, because you will not be able to achieve your goal unless you take time out for yourself.  Ask your family and friends to support you by encouraging you and being conscious of their own habits when they're around you.  The more supportive, and healthy influences you surround yourself with, the more chance you have of succeeding.\n\nIf you're not used to exercising, you'd be best to start with gentle exercises, because the going from 0 to 100 will make you hurt and the more you hurt, the less you want to exercise and as a result, you lose your motivation.\n\nDon't expect things to happen overnight, and don't bother with fad diets that promise a quick fix - your body registers dieting as "starvation" and hangs onto your body fat.  \n\nKeep things interesting for yourself.  If you find yourself growing bored with your chosen exercise regime, try taking it up a notch, or else try something new.  If you join a gym, try to find one that gives free consultations with trainers every so often.  If not, make sure you join one that has plenty of staff around who can help you use the machinery and advise you on how things work, and what weights and speeds you should be using etc.  If you're nervous about embarrassing yourself, don't be!  Look around at different gyms, there are a heap of ones that aren't filled with people pumping iron and are quieter and less imposing for beginners.  If your finances can run to it, try to organise a session with one of the gym's personal trainers once a month or so -  that way you can get a proper, personalised evaluation and find out if you should be changing your exercise routine.\n\nIf you can't run to a gym membership, the try walking - set yourself a goal to reach, I used to go to video store at the top of the main road.  It only took me ten minutes to walk there, but I slowly increased that to include the streets surrounding it.\n\nWhen you go out, try to get a particular friend to keep an eye on you and help keep you from straying.  However, don't forget to treat yourself every so often.  I find that if I deny myself a treat for too long, I end up binging, which destroys all the good work I've done!  \n\nAlso, try not to eat before you go to sleep - I believe 2hrs is the minimum recommended gap.  And don't forget the mental component to losing weight - the mind plays a big part. Don't eat in front of the TV or computer - it distracts your mind from the process of eating.  Eat slowly - it helps your body feel fuller - 15-20min is the recommended minimum.  And try to prepare your own meals, your sense of smell plays a big part in your enjoyment of food - it's a preliminary stage to eating, so it prepares your mind and unconsciously begins to help you feel mentally fu