Why do you want to lose weight?
How many times have you been asked that question? How many times have you given it some serious thought beyond the typical answer, “I want to look better”? If you were to stop and really think about your reasons a little deeper you’d find that your answers just might point you in a new direction, which could benefit you tremendously!
One of the things I often hear people say is that they just aren’t motivated. Heck, I’ve said it myself a time or two (or three or four or more). Could the reason for our lack of motivation be because we have not gone deep enough to find the answers to why we want to lose weight? I firmly believe that once we’ve connected emotionally to our reasons why, those reasons would be the very thing that would motivate us to take consistent action to change.
Sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot by not taking some critical steps. Especially if they seem too elementary or not serious enough. But I honestly believe this is a very important step because it lays the foundation for your journey. Here are four benefits to connecting to your whys:
- Connecting to your whys will keep you motivated to do the work.
- Connecting to your whys will give you hope. It will allow you to dream and visualize the big picture and inspire you to take action.
- Connecting to your whys will keep you focused.
- Connecting to you whys fuels you and gives you the energy you need to keep moving forward, especially when you feel like you are ready to give up!
Once you have identified your reasons why you want to lose weight, you’ll want to keep them before you at all times. Here are some tips for doing that.
- Write them down and read them every day. Make this a daily routine.
- Write down all the steps for reaching your goals and then set mini goals with deadlines for reaching them.
- Set a time to visualize, meditate and pray over your whys and your goals.
The key to connecting to your “whys” is to make sure they are bigger and more pressing than the weight you have to lose.
Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Your “Whys” Must Be About YOU! They must center around and focused on you and your desires for yourself! In other words they can’t be for anyone else. If your “whys” are based on someone else’s desire for you or if your “whys” are something you hear yourself saying you “should” do, these probably aren’t the “whys” that are going to take you to your destination. Your “whys” should inspire you to move towards something YOU want.
Your “Whys” May Change Mid-stream. Sometimes the “whys” that gets you started will not be the “whys” that keep you going. You could have different “whys” for each phase of your journey and that’s okay! In fact I highly recommend that you do because as you proceed through the process not only does your body start to change but you’ll start to come alive and the things that are important to you will start to change as well.
Tie Your “Whys” To Something Powerful. Consider these three areas.
- How do you want to FEEL? Do you want to have more energy? Do you want to feel more confident? Do you want to feel more in control of yourself and your choices? Would you like to feel less self-conscious? Do you want to be in better health? Would you like to be more outgoing?
- What would you like to ACCOMPLISH? Would you like to be more physically fit? Would you like to complete a 5K race, half or full marathon? Would you like to teach a group fitness class? Would you like to move your body without discomfort or embarrassment? Would you like to cross “lose weight” off of your “to do” list once and for all? Would you like to be taken off of your high blood pressure medication?
- How do you want to LOOK? Would you like to wear a smaller clothing size? Would you like to be happier when you look in the mirror? Would you like to wear a bathing suit for the first time in 15 years?
The key thing about your “whys” is that they will ignite your motivation for the long haul. Your job is to dig deep and figure out all the reasons “why” you want to lose weight and follow those reasons. By doing so, this will keep you mindful of the vow and commitment you made to yourself at the beginning of your journey and keep you moving consistently along to your finish line.
Your Turn To Share
What are your why’s? How do you want to feel? What do you want to accomplish? How do you want to look?