Staying motivated with your weight loss goals can seem less of a chore during the spring and summer months. The days are longer and the weather's warmer and this can make the process of dieting and exercising seem more worthwhile as we are comfortable with our environments and the best part we can get to show off our results on the beach or by the pool!
Then as August moves into September and the leaves begin to fall a change takes place in us too. Going outside seems less appealing, and the thoughts of those comforting winter foods begin to develop in our minds. Roast dinner with all the trimmings everyone? Before you know it we have descended into a routine where by we exercise less frequently and eat too much of those rich foods that comfort us during the colder darker months.
This is the first sign your motivation is slipping. You may find yourself saying "well I can shift the pounds next spring" or your daily exercise routine may become a weekend thing or even once a week. In order to prevent this from happening we need to change the way we thing about our diets, our exercise plans and our life styles in general.
Getting to the level of fitness and good shape you desire is a bit like opening a savings account. To make the most of it you need to make it part of your life. Depositing regularly for the rest of your life wont make you wealthy tomorrow, but in a few years you will have accumulated a substantial amount of cash. And so with our diet and exercising plan we must keep focused on the long term goal. To do this keep in your mind:
1. Your achievements so far.
2. Keep body transformation pictures of yourself or those you aspire to be like in your bag or on your smart-phone.
3. Talk to your partner or friends about what you hope to achieve with your diet and fitness goals over the winter months and ask them to encourage you.
4. Use the internet to look for alternative forms of exercise and food plans for the winter months.
5. Don't be afraid of the dark! - Find a running partner or gym partner to go with you for those early morning or evening workouts.
6. Be strict with your shopping lists. Make sure you always have one written before you do your shopping.
7. Stick to foods that provide great slow release energy, brown rice and pasta, oats and honey and sweet potatoes will provide the energy you need to see you through those dark mornings and gloomy nights. these will keep your metabolism up and SAD down!
8. Keep a diary of your food and exercising programmes, that way you can track how much progress you are making and you'll notice the winter isn't as long as you think!
9. Look for the healthier treats at Christmas, nuts and fruits are always a plenty this time of year!
10. If you slip up. Get up, get focused and get going again.
We all feel like just cosying up in the living room at this time of year. but trust me it makes us sluggish, moody and depressed. Be one of those who smiles through the winter and keep your motivation going!
James Arthur Jackson
Home Fitness Enthusiast - Started at 210lbs and now at 179lbs and still going
http://www.steadyloss.com/
