A lack of adequate motivation for weight loss  is probably by far the biggest problem people face when trying to lose weight.  Most people set out to lose weight without any thought at all as to how they are going to get themselves to stay on track with their diet and exercise programs.  When the individual fails to prepare themselves mentally, their motivation for weight loss will often fade very quickly, and their weight loss attempts will fail time and time again. 

Motivation to stick to your weight loss program can come from a variety of approaches.  For some people, positive reinforcement will work best.  Rewards for reaching small goals can keep you feeling positive and focused on your overall weight loss goal.  It is important to be careful about what you choose as your reward system though.  Many people actually impair their weight loss by rewarding themselves with unhealthy foods that they’ve been avoiding on their diet plans.  High-carbohydrate foods, especially sweets, are particularly bad to use as rewards because they dramatically shift blood sugar.  Rapid changes in blood sugar can spark intense cravings and the associated insulin release can block fat burning for up to two days.  Non-food rewards typically work much better.  Getting a massage, buying yourself a present, getting a spa treatment, or whatever appeals to you can be an excellent reward to keep your motivation for weight loss going without setting you back with your weight loss program.

For some individuals, negative reinforcement, also known as punishment, woks well for keeping them motivated to lose weight.  If you set aside punishments for cheating on your weight loss program, it  may help keep you more focused on being faithful to your weight loss program.  As with rewards though, it is important to choose your punishments carefully.  Some people get really down on themselves emotionally when they cheat on their weight loss plans, and punishing themselves for diet or exercise transgressions may actually drive them to emotional eating that only makes things worse.

Rather than using punishment, weight loss motivation can often be strengthened more by using accountability - to yourself and/or to others.  The first step to having accountability is to record what you are eating and what your physical activities are.  A diet and exercise log will help you monitor what you are doing so you can see how well you are following your weight loss program.  Then you can decide if your adherence to the program is worthy of reward or punishment. 
 

Even better than being accountable to just yourself, it often helps considerably to be accountable to a family member or friend who is willing to track your weight loss progress with you.  Someone who can give you support when you may be feeling weak and can share your happiness when things are going well can be one of the best forms of weight loss motivation there is.  Having someone else to help administer rewards and/or punishments can make things easier too.  For example, if you set a goal and reach it, your weight loss assistant might agree to give you a foot massage.  On the other hand, if you cheat on your diet more than once in a given week, perhaps you have to wash your weight loss assistant’s car.  You and your assistant can get creative and make the process fun - at least a lot more fun than you struggling through on your own.

Finally, there are many methods out there to recondition the mind to strengthen the motivation for weight loss.  Techniques such as those of Anthony Robbins, The Sedona Method, Emotional Freedom Technique, and self-hypnosis can not only strengthen your motivation in general, they can help you resist specific challenges to your ability to stay motivated.  For example, if you have a craving for a particular diet-sabotaging food, there are ways to handle that.  If there’s a particular person who seems to “push your buttons” and trigger behavior that sabotages your weight loss, there are ways to handle that as well.  Different things work to varying degrees for different people, so investigate the options to find techniques that appeal to you and give them a try. 
 

Ultimately, you can develop very strong weight loss motivation and use it to achieve your weight loss goals.  The key is to recognize the importance of the mental aspect of weight loss and prepare yourself properly to keep your mind on your side so you can lose the weight and keep it off for good.

For more information about weight loss motivation, including the most effective techniques from the best mental conditioning programs available, and to receive a free diet and exercise program , visit Dr. Best’s TrainYourBrain4WeightLoss.com website.