Girls!!

We have set ourself up for some big goals that I am ready to see us achieve!! So let's get started!

Motivation Tip 1. Weight loss motivation is all about desire rather than willpower. How much do you want to lose weight? How much more do you want to lose weight than you want to eat fattening food and lay on the sofa watching TV all day? List all your reasons for wanting to lose weight, or stay healthy and slim. Add more reasons to your list as you think of them. Make reading your list the first thing you do in the morning.

Motivation Tip 2. Sustain motivation by making getting to your target weight believable. Visualize success. How will you look when you lose weight? How will you feel? What will you be wearing? How will your clothes feel on you? What will people be saying to you? What will you be saying? What will you be doing? Spend 5 minutes a day imagining and enjoying your future success. A great way to while away the time waiting in a line or commuting, not so great for driving though!

Motivation Tip 3. If you have a lot of weight to lose it can be hard to sustain your focus. If that is the case, plan some activities throughout the year that you would like to be slim for, for example Valentine's Day, your birthday, a weekend away, your annual vacation, Thanksgiving etc. - your Weight loss motivation dates! Plot out your goal weight for each event with a sensible rate of weight loss (max 1-2lbs per week) and use each mile-stone as a major target in itself. Use the same strategy for weight maintenance by ensuring that you stay the same weight for each special date in your calendar.

Motivation Tip 4. Boost your weight loss motivation by promising yourself a treat when you reach your goals. Build in some non-food rewards for every little step you take as well as for major milestones. How about a beauty treatment for each 4lbs lost? Or buy a book by your favorite author and allow yourself time to read in peace (and without guilt) each time you do your full workout. And each time you make a healthy choice rather than an available unhealthy choice (walking instead of taking the car, fresh fruit instead of ice-cream) pat yourself on the back. Tell yourself that you're doing great, because you are!

Motivation Tip 5. Take a picture of yourself in your swimsuit or leotard at the start of your program. Each month take another picture wearing the same thing. Feel your weight loss motivation sore as the swimsuit gets baggy while you shrink. A Digital camera is great for taking those pictures you don't want to take to the developers!