Weight loss is a journey, and while many bariatric patients will experience rapid weight loss in the days and weeks immediately following surgery, weight loss tends to slow with time, which can be discouraging and even frustrating.
Hitting a plateau in your weight loss is not abnormal, but it may take some extra effort to break through and begin losing weight again. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated throughout your weight loss process.
Make fitness fun.
Working out should be fun. Join a team, invite friends to workout with you, try something new, discover a talent for fitness you never knew you had. The more you enjoy working out, the more likely you will be to stick with it, even when it seems your progress has slowed.
Set specific goals.
Make specific, measurable goals for yourself and keep yourself accountable to reach those goals. Making a goal to lose X pounds in X weeks can be discouraging. Instead, try setting fitness-related goals for yourself, such as being able to jog 10 minutes without stopping within three weeks or being able to complete 25 sit-ups after six weeks.
Get an accountability partner.
Having a workout buddy/accountability partner can keep you going when you’re struggling to motivate yourself. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people will remind you of your goals. Seek out friends who practice healthy eating and partake in regular physical activity to help influence your own habits.
Write it down.
Keep a journal of what you’re doing, what you like, what you don’t, how you think you can make something work better for you, what you would do different, what you want to remember. Sometimes seeing your goals and feelings on paper can motivate you to achieve greatness, especially when you find your motivation lacking.
Reward yourself.
After a good workout, savor the feeling of accomplishment afterward. Reward yourself with non-food items, such as new walking shoes, new music to run to or new workout gear. When you reach major milestones, treat yourself to a day at the spa or plan a trip to the beach. Taking time to celebrate the small milestones and appreciate the progress you’ve made along the way can give you a sense of pride to keep you moving toward your goal.
When frustration, discouragement or lack of motivation hits, take time to visualize the end result. Where do you want to see yourself in three, six or 12 months? Keep your eyes on the prize and remind yourself why you started this journey in the first place. Losing weight isn’t easy, but it is always worth it.