How to Get Motivated to Lose 30 Pounds!

If you are like me, then you want to know how to get motivated to lose 30 pounds, and stay that way.  Too many times we get hyped about losing  weight and getting in shape, only to lose focus a short time later.  Well I say, “No more!  We need to see this thing through!”  So here’s a way to get there.

(1) Define your Goals

Either in a journal, diary, or document saved to your desktop, write down specifically what your goals are.  Somehow, writing it down makes it official.  It’s simply more real if you can see it/read it.  My #1 goal is to lose 30 pounds.  I have other goals that I’ll write down, also.   For instance, I want to run a 6-minute mile again.  I want to be able to do 50 push-ups again, and I want to be able to do 30 pull-ups.

That’s four goals right there.  I’m sure that I could come up with a few others, but these four are the ones that will really make me feel good about myself.  Hence, knowing these goals will help me to get motivated.

(2) Make a Workout Plan

What are you going to do to reach your goals?  Write down your plan.  It doesn’t have to be a big production.  You don’t have to research for hours for the most used, scientifically proven method.  What you do need to do is get specific.  On Sunday at 10:00 A.M.,  I’m going to the track and performing this workout.  On Monday at 7:00 P.M., I’m going to do my push-up/pull-up workout.  On Tuesday, I’m going to take the day off – but I’ll use this time to dump any junk food from my fridge and pantry. 

The key is to write it down.  Don’t plan it out more than a few days, maybe a week – that way if you ever fall behind you can very easily readjust your plan.

(3) Track your Progress

It doesn’t have to be a large, sophisticated excel spreadsheet.  If you like that kind of thing, then go ahead.  I simply write down my progress, in note form, right in my plan…  Did I do the workout?  How many repetitions?  How much weight?  How long did I run for, how many laps?  Did the workout make me feel good?

Opinions differ on tracking your personal weight.  I like to do it.  It alleviates my curiosity, and if I stagnate for two weeks, I can step back to look at what I might try differently.  Just remember that some days your weight won’t change, and it might even go up.  That’s totally natural.  I only change things up if I haven’t lost weight for two full weeks.

If you want to know how to get motivated using only one method, tracking your progress is my choice.

(4) Ditch the Junk

I already said this, but I think it’s very important.  Ditch the junk.  Go through your fridge and pantry and get rid of the junk food.  Seeing that food in my house makes me want to eat it.  So I eat it, then feel guilty, feel like I failed, then feel like I wasted my effort.  That whole process is disheartening, frustrating – not very motivational.  Simply not having access to that junk can be a great booster by itself.

(5) Seek Uppers

Not drugs; people.  Surround yourself with like-minded individuals.  Talk or hang out with people that either motivate you, or have similar goals.  At the very least, join a fitness forum.  Join several.  Write comments on fitness blogs.  Do whatever it takes to communicate with others that are also taking charge of their lives and personal health.

(6) Find an Inspiration

This is more a personal choice for me; I don’t consider it essential for everyone.  My inspiration is Thiago Alves, the MMA fighter.  He and I have the same body type and height (I just have a lot more fat).  Every time I see him fight I think, “Geez, I could look like that.”  Except, of course, that I’m a pale white boy and he’s Brazilian.

If you’re wanting to know how to get motivated to lose 30 pounds, don’t stop here.  This stuff works for me, but feel free to look for more tips.  If you find other great ideas, leave a comment!