Rekindling Weight Loss Motivation

Posted: Jan 09 in Weight Management Strategies by Dr. Lazarus

Holiday weight gain

The holidays are over! For people trying to keep weight off, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, New Years Eve, family, guests, parties… — one after the other — these events make sustaining weight loss motivation a real challenge! Then in January, time to get back on the wagon again. But sometimes it can feel like a huge mountain to climb to get back on track. Many people find that with all the challenges of the holiday season, the motivation to keep working on healthy habits evaporates.

Why motivation evaporates

Unfortunately, because most people view “Weight Loss = Success” and “Weight Gain = Failure,” regaining even one pound results in a major hit to the motivation and willpower to continue. It’s like coming home with an “F” on a report card. Every human being both gains and loses weight. Because those working on weight loss equate any gain as a failure, and because the sense of failure robs us of motivation to continue, if we can’t address the idea that the only measure of success is losing weight, all who are trying to lose weight are destined to “Fail.”

Strategies to maintain weight loss motivation

There are two important strategies to deal with this faulty mindset.

• First and foremost, eliminate the idea that “Weight Gain = Failure.” Structure goals around healthy behaviors, not around numbers on a scale. Aim to eat healthy foods, stick with your plan, get physical activity every day, get plenty of sleep, deal with stressors in your life. Don’t make “Losing Weight” the be-all and end-all goal.
• Second, remember to keep it simple! Setting simple goals is the best way to build motivation. Don’t set a goal of “I want to lose 50 pounds.” Instead, set a goal of “I’m going to start keeping a food journal every day again,” or “I’m going to use 2 meal replacement protein drinks a day – one for breakfast, and one in the middle of the afternoon.” Remember back when we first met, and we set up a super simple and structured behavioral and food plan? Getting back to the basics will help you build back up your motivation. For more information on setting SMART goals, review this article.

A lot of times, the idea of losing weight becomes overwhelming – “I’m back where I started. I’m not sure if I have the time / money / motivation to repeat a full Optifast weight loss program. Etc…” If this sounds like you, then don’t restart! You already have the skills to do this. During your 20 week program, we worked with you on all the lifestyle techniques you need to lose weight and keep it off! Take out your binder, and start re-reading the lessons. Start journaling. Come see us every 2 to 4 weeks. Take your medication. Use a partial meal replacement. Use all the tools you already have, and you will reap all the benefits of the healthy habits, healthy nutrition, healthy physical activity that we worked so hard to instill in you. Most of our long-term patients see us once a month.

Before you know it, your weight will be back under control, you’ll feel better, you’ll have more energy. You will be back in control of your health.

Why weight? Give us a call at (303) 750-9454 and we will be happy to help you get back in control!