Staying Motivated

Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle are the best presents we can give ourselves. Having a plan is the key to staying focused. If you set realistic goals and develop a diet and exercise plan you can follow and use to measure your progress, then you are already halfway there. Use the information in the Diet and Exercise Diary section to help you do this.

Here are some great ways to help you stay motivated as you move closer towards your goal.

Plot your weight on a graph
Do this and you will see just how far you have come and just how much closer to your target weight you are. Only weigh yourself once a week.

Check out your vital statistics
Measure your chest, waist, hip and thigh measurements each week and keep a record in your exercise diary. Sometimes your weight might stay the same but you will still be losing inches.

Keep a diet and exercise diary
Write down positive thoughts and comments, including any feedback you have had from others on how much better you are looking. Click here to see an example of a good diet and exercise diary.

Set a physical goal
Enter a charity walk, run or cycle. You will feel good because of the training involved and because you’re doing something for others.

Find a friend
Sign up for an activity with a friend. It will be more fun and less tempting to drop out.

Take photos of yourself
No one needs to see them apart from you. Photos do not lie and you will have a visual reminder of just how far you have come.

Give yourself a 'weighty' reminder of how well you have done
Keep a bag full of items that weigh the same as the amount you have lost. Pick up the bag each time you need reassurance.