What do YOU do to boost your motivation to lose weight?

[Anonymous]

I honestly hate how I look, I gym five days a week for 30 mins each day. I have been doing the five days a week thing for little over a month and have seen ANY difference at all. I eat right with the rare sweet here and there. I can't understand why nothing is looking better. I've always had the mindset that if I'm not skinny and toned I am ugly and will get no where etc. so basically I have a very low image of myself.

I want to try and motivate myself to loose the weight. I was thinking of maybe buying an article of clothing in the size that I want to be and make that my motivation, like, an amazing pair of jeans etc.

What do YOU do? and do you have any tips for me?

a struggling weight looser...

[Littletad]

You'll need more than motivation. You'll need a commitment and a serious look at your diet and activities. I'll try to help with the basics. And this is a common "diet" that is safe.

Every pound of fat has 3500 calories. I think that's correct if I remember. So how do you lose weight to begin with? By burning more than what you consume. That doesn't mean that every calorie you intake has to be burned off. Your metabolism will take care of the rest once it's kicked into gear. So what's the "best" method? One safe way is to eat 250 calories less each day and burn 250 calories. You can loose weight by eating less, but a combined ratio of healthy eating plus cardio activities will get you results much faster. So if your normal calorie intake was 2500 calories, then I'd suggest reducing it to 2250, while shooting for at least 2100 (just to be more motivated). Next, start making your exercise sessions last longer than thirty minutes. Try doing a treadmill for 30 minutes of either light jogging or even walking. After that, have your next choice of activity with either light weights or some form of body toning.

If you don't have time for more than 30 minutes, than make your session a high intensity workout. You'll find many examples on youtube or exercise forums and they are pretty self explanatory. Find something fun you'll enjoy. Remember that for every minute of intense activity you lose 8 calories. Why am I saying this? Because the more you know the math, the better motivation you have.

As for your food, I'd suggest you start eating a little different. Use skim milk instead of whole milk. If you don't think you'll like the taste, go for Land-o-lakes skim milk. It taste just like whole milk but is fat free. Instead of using whole eggs, remove the yolks and eat the egg whites. Do not drink any sugar drinks. Instead drink more lemonade, orange juice, green tea, or other sports drinks that don't use high fructose corn syrup so much. Also, please drink more water. And of course the usual grilled chicken, yogurt, lean meats, and whole grains.

Believe it or not, there's not much left to omit from your diet. You can eat almost anything you want, especially if it's organic and if you at least know how many calories your intaking and how much you'll have to burn off.

[Anonymous]

First you have to ask yourself why you're losing the weight. In your head you think if you're not toned you're ugly. That's not the case at all. I dated a fitness freak for years who always pushed me to workout and do things that I didn't want to do. Not because I am unhealthy, but because she wanted me to look a certain way. That's a shallow thing. I am a bigger guy, and I am satisfied and confident with who I am and what I look like. I don't plan on being an Abercrombie swimsuit model ever, so big deal. Someone is going to love you for what you are, that's it. If your health is obviously a concern, then I would advise working out. I eat healthy, I don't drink or smoke, but I walk everywhere as oppose to driving or taking public transit, etc. Just do little things like that.

[ivarei]

what are you doing at the gym for 30 minutes? 30 minutes isn't enough for cardio and if you're just doing weights, then you can't expect to lose weight either.