Help is at hand
King’s Park Weight Watchers leader Fiona Pediani goes back to school with advice for weight loss.
Everyone on a weight loss journey needs motivation, something to spur you on in moments when you forget why you started on that journey.
So what does motivation look like for you? It could be your health, losing weight can make a huge difference to many health problems and losing 10 per cent of your body weight can reduce the risk of strokes, heart disease and diabetes, to name but a few.
A special occasion like a wedding, a holiday or a family party where you will be meeting people you haven’t seen for a while could be what’s driving you.
Clothes are also a big motivator too, wanting to look good and be to be able to wear clothes you wouldn’t have worn before is a great feeling.
So what happens when you lose your motivation? It’s very easy to let all your new good habits slide and before you know it you’ve ended up back where you started.
You may have lost some weight, feel fitter and have more energy. Maybe the doctor is pleased with your progress if you have a health problem. The special occasion has past and everyone said you looked fantastic and you are wearing a smaller size of jeans or dresses.
So now’s the time to regain control and use the children going back to school as a reason to refocus your goral, ask yourself: “Am I where I really want to be with my weight?”
If the answer is yes then you need to work on maintaining your weight.
If the answer is no then you need a new goal, something to work towards in the next few months. Small goals are more achievable than large goals which can seem way ahead in the distance, and here are my top tips for resetting your weight loss goals and maintaining your mojo:
1. Write down your goals for the next few weeks.
2. Make a plan of the next week and write it down.
3. If your health is an issue, speak to your doctor and find out what difference being at a healthy BMI would make to you personally.
4. Think ahead to the next occasion or holiday, remember Christmas is only a few months away, where would you like to be on your journey by then?
5. Read other people’s weight loss success stories, Weight-Watchers magazine has lots of great stories and success motivates success.
6. Use your wardrobe as motivation, aim to fit into those jeans that are a bit too tight or to be a size smaller for your next holiday or big occasion .
7. Try new foods and recipes, being bored with what you are eating can lead to going off track and at this time of year there are lots of lovely seasonal vegetables about.
8. Challenge yourself. Try a new exercise or sign up for a 5k run or walk. There are lots of mobile apps to help you get started which are a great help. Six weeks ago , one of my member had never run before, and can now run 5k thanks to the Couch to 5k app.
9. Move more! Wear a pedometer and watch the amount of steps you do in a day increase.
10. My best tip I can give you is to be kind to yourself, be positive and congratulate on each small milestone, you can achieve anything at all if you have the right attitude!
And finally, for support from a leader who has lost weight successfully themselves, join a local Weight Watchers meeting.