10 tips to stay motivated that helped this mum lose 11kgs
Everyone struggles to stay motivated at different stages of their weight loss journeys and when you have kids and a family to worry about it can sometimes make it harder. Healthy Mummy Julia Meadows knows how hard it is to stay on track.
Julia is now sharing with you her ten tips that have helped her stay on track and lose 11kgs with the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge and The Healthy Mummy.
Julia’s 10 tips to stay motivated and on track
1) Realise it won’t happen overnight
Understand that things won’t change with the flip of a switch, and take into account the idea that there is not one straight path forward. Big goals we set ourselves are usually long-term projects or habit changes, and won’t happen overnight. Don’t get impatient if it takes time to see results.
2) Set yourself small mini-goals.
When setting yourself small goals, you will avoid getting overwhelmed.
For example, if you want to reduce sugar in your diet make January a complete sugar-free month to get you started. 1 month sounds less overwhelming and more doable instead of 12 months.
Focus on small achievements which are typically small steps towards the large yearly goals.
3) Write your goal/s down every morning.
I don’t believe that simply making a mental or written statement at the beginning of your journey is enough to keep your goals fresh and in front of you. Transforming a resolution into reality takes much more action than that.
Continuously reminding yourself of what you want to accomplish will help you to stay focused and stay motivated.
4) Get a workout buddy for accountability.
If your goal is to exercise more, get someone to join you. If you have made arrangements to go for a walk or attend a workout class with a friend you will think twice about cancelling. Also exercising is much more fun with a buddy.
5) Change up your workout routine.
It can get boring very quickly doing the same workout routine day in and day out.
A great way to stay motivated is to change up your workouts to keep things interesting!
For example: do some of the 28 Weight Loss Challenge workouts a few days a week. Go for a run, a swim or to the gym on the other days. Or even join a new workout class you’ve always wanted to try out. Like pole dancing for example
6) Meal prep
Having delicious and healthy meals and snacks on hand will make it a lot easier to stick to your goal and you will be less likely to opt for unhealthy takeaway or snacks.
7) Reward yourself
If you have managed to stay on the healthy bandwagon and reached your first goal, go and reward yourself. Not with food, no! Get a massage or a manicure or get your hair done.
8) Don’t compare yourself to other people.
We all lose weight and achieve goals in our own time. Some might achieve goals quicker than others but that doesn’t mean you won’t achieve yours too.
Don’t compare yourself to others but rather take their achievements as motivation to reach your own goals.
9) Make yourself a visual goal board or motivation board
Having your motivation board hanging up in your kitchen, for example, will be a daily reminder of what you want to achieve but also of how far you’ve already come.
10) Be Kind to Yourself!
We are our own worst critics and don’t give ourselves enough credit. If you had a bad day don’t stress about it. Brush it off and start fresh the next day. One bad day is not going to ruin all your hard work.