| Why do so many of us fail or give up our efforts | | | | you get when you practise healthy eating habits. |
| to lose weight? The reason is that we pay too | | | | 6. Share your gameplan |
| little attention to our emotions and what drive us | | | | Set up your support system and share with |
| to eat unnecessarily. If you are able to get a grip | | | | those whom you think can encourage you in your |
| on these emotions, you have a better chance of | | | | weightloss effort. Decide what you want friends |
| success and losing weight and keeping it off. | | | | and family to do to encourage you. For example, |
| Here's a motivation checklist: | | | | remind them to be mindful of what or what not |
| 1. Commit | | | | to offer you in terms of food. |
| As with every goal in life, make a commitment to | | | | 7. Stop thinking little things have no |
| lose weight that no matter what happens, rain or | | | | caloriessometimes we tend to forget little bites |
| shine, you are committed to make that trip to | | | | like a handful of potato chips, sweets, jelly beans |
| the gym. Adopt that "I can do it" attitude and | | | | - are too small to have any calories. They all add |
| remember to draw on these successes when the | | | | up. Think of how little satisfaction you get from |
| next time you are faced with yet another | | | | these little bites and how they negate your effort |
| challenge. | | | | to lose weight. Over time, you will adjust your |
| 2. Give yourself 10 good reasons | | | | eating pattern and will no longer be tempted by |
| List 10 things that drive your weight-loss desires, | | | | these little distractions. |
| for example , "lower my cholesterol level" or | | | | 8. Post a note strategically |
| "increase my energy level" or "fit into that new | | | | Put signs in your kitchen or refrigerator to remind |
| bikini". Keep the list handy , either in your purse, | | | | you, "what you are looking for is not here". |
| or at your desk where you cannot miss it. When | | | | Sometimes we have a tendency to overcome |
| you suffer a dip in motivation, looking at the list | | | | any emotional upset by eating. Instead go out and |
| will guarantee a recharge. | | | | exercise and release the emotional baggage. That |
| 3. Downsize the less than healthy foods | | | | is guaranteed to make you feel better than eating |
| Who says you cannot enjoy your life while dieting. | | | | anyway. |
| The key is to eat in moderation all the things that | | | | 9. Recharge your motivation battery |
| you love. Eat with awareness. If you must have | | | | There will be down times when you are in no |
| your regular fix of icecream or chocolate, plan | | | | mood to exercise or cooking healthy food. You |
| your eating habit. Establish how much you | | | | might think it is easier to just order pizza. It is |
| consume in a week, cut it by half or a third, | | | | time you revist your goals and remind yourself |
| either through size or frequency. | | | | you got this far, so why blow it now. Just get up |
| 5. Practise never-miss-a-meal habit | | | | and run. |
| It is a fact and reality that whenever we skip | | | | 10. Celebrate the smallest of victories |
| meals and become extremely hungry and sluggish, | | | | Focus on your successes, no matter how small |
| we tend to grab any food to satisfy hunger for | | | | they are. Write them down and put the list where |
| example potato chips or some snacks. Or we | | | | you can see them to motivate you. You will feel |
| could gobble down in larger volume for the next | | | | gratified and happy that you have made |
| meal. So the lesson here is to ensure you never | | | | achievements and will encourage you to increase |
| miss your healthy meals. Imagine the energy that | | | | your successes. |