So I’ve given this some serious thought because this is my story. I currently weigh 320 lbs. My ultimate goal is to weight 180 lbs. That means I have 140 lbs. to lose. Ai yi yi, that is such a daunting thought. Looking at the big picture makes me want to give up before I even begin the process. But I can’t and I won’t do that.
So, that got me to thinking. How can I keep myself motivated for the long haul? One hundred and forty pounds is simply not going to come off overnight. In fact it will probably take me at least a year if not longer to reach my goal. That means I have to have a rock solid plan in place for keeping myself revved and raring to go. Here are my strategies:
10 x 14
I’m going to plan big but focus small. Losing 140 lbs. seems close to impossible to do, BUT losing 10 lbs. is something I can definitely do! Over the course of the time it’s going to take me to lose the weight, I’m only going to focus on 10 lbs. at a time. I will simply lose 10 lbs. 14 times and before I know it I’ll be at my goal weight. Piece of cake, right!?
Focus On The Process Not The Results
Rather that obsessing over the number on the scale from week to week, I’m going to redirect my energies towards my behavior and my accomplishments. The process of losing weight and the rewards of seeing my body and abilities transform and morph over time is more rewarding than watching the number on a stupid metal box go up and down. Where’s the fun in that?
Document And Record Like Crazy
I’m going to set up a progress binder, which I will use to document my successes. Monthly I will record my measurements, my successes and failures, my picture, my consistency chart and anything else I can think of that will tell the story of my journey. I’m going to continue using My Fitness Pal to record what I eat and my Fitbit to track my activity. Just call me the registrar of being fit and fab.
Get Busy Living Now…Not When
In a year and a half I will be 50 years old. I know, I know, I don’t look a day over 16….LOL, I couldn’t resist. But seriously, at age 48, I’m closer to the end of my life than the beginning. My bucket list is long and exciting and I’m not waiting for “when” I reach my goal weight to start checking things off. No indeed. I’m going to get started now. I’ve spent way too much time allowing my weight to hold me back. Well no more!
Reward Myself Often And With Things That Support My Goal
The act of losing weight is really an act of extreme self-care. So when I think about rewarding myself for reaching my goals, I think of it as a continuation of taking care of myself. As I type this post, ideas for rewards are flooding my mind.
- Bright, colorful and fun workout gear
- Hot stone massage
- Mani/Pedi
- Take Friday’s and Monday’s off from work for a long weekend that includes a mini vacation (several times a year)
- Enjoy some day trips
- Swimming lessons
- A new bike
Notice that nowhere on this list is there a mention of food? Oh boy, I’m getting motivated already.
Try Something New Every Month
I get bored very fast. After about 4-5 weeks of doing anything, I’m ready to move on to something new. Knowing this about myself lends itself perfectly to this strategy. Trying something new every month will keep things fresh and exciting for me. I already have some things in mind, such as new:
- Recipes
- Hairstyle
- Outfit that shows off my new body
- Workout routine
- If I ever get back to teaching Zumba, a new zumba routine
You get the idea here. The point of all of this is to keep it fresh and exciting so I can keep it moving.
Your Turn To Share
What are some of the ways you keep yourself motivated to keep moving forward on your weight loss journey?