Lesson #4: Identifying Your Weight Loss Motivation

I’m posting weight loss lessons this month to help you dig deeper into your emotions, thoughts and habits during our Modified Daniel Fast.

Lesson 1 |Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 5 | Lesson 6

Lesson #4: Identifying Your Weight Loss Motivation

What is your weight loss motivation? Why do you want to lose weight? What is your big WHY?  Everyone who starts a weight release journey needs to identify what their main motivations are.  I say motivations with an “s” because they may vary.  You may want to love the way your body looks and get off blood pressure medication.  You may want to decrease your insulin levels and be able to fit into your favorite dress.

Let’s do some work to identify and document our weight loss motivations!  Get out your journal, the computer you’re documenting your journey on or a piece of paper.

1. How You Look! – I want you to write down the motivations that are connected your appearance and how you feel about it. Here are some examples…(Write down your truth)

• I want to be able to go to a store and find more clothes in my size.
• I want to be able to fit into my favorite clothes again.
• I want to love what I see in the mirror.
• I want more positive self esteem.
• I want to firm up and tighten up my body.
• I want to look in the mirror and smile more.
• I love my body but I don’t feel healthy, I want to change that.
• I want to lose weight so that there is less pain in my (fill in the blank).
• I want my clothes to fit better.  I don’t want to keep buying larger clothes

2. Wellness and Fitness – Write down the motivations you have that are connected to health and fitness.  Here are some examples…(Think about your goals and write down what is true for you)

• I want to decrease my high blood pressure medication.
• I want to avoid developing diabetes.
• I want to have more energy.
• I want a better chance of having a long life.
• I want to run a half marathon.
• I want to compete in a fitness/bodybuilding competition.
• I want greater wellness
• I want to be a vegan/vegetarian.
• I want to eat healthy everyday

3. Life in General – Write down the motivations you have that are connected to friends, family, men, relationships, spirituality, etc.  When you are taking on a major lifestyle change it can affect various areas of your life.  You’ll have motivations connected to things out side of just eating, body image or fitness.

• I want to find the love of my life and be a whole person in the relationship.
• I want to get over the abandonment I feel due to my relationship with my dad.
• I want lose weight and get healthier before I get pregnant.
• I want to be more outgoing and less shy.
• I have a high school reunion coming up that I want to look good for.
• I want to have less stress and anxiety about my weight and health.
• I want to have more energy to run around with my kids.

Create Affirmations:
Now, I want you to rewrite your motivations and change them into affirmations.  You will declare that you WILL or you CAN do these things.

• I will have more energy by eating healthier food and less junk.
• I will run a marathon.  I will start training this week.
• I can firm up and tighten my body with exercise.
• I will lose (fill in the blank) pounds.
• I can stop eating junk food.

Take Action: I want you to take some time to look at this list and determine what motivations are the more important to you.  Pick at least 3.  Write these 3 down on 3 note cards. Then…

• Put one card in your purse
• Post one card on your fridge
• Leave one at work or wherever you eat lunch
• Tip: Make a poster of it and post it on your bathroom mirror.

For at least one week, I want you to pull out the card and read it to yourself out loud before you eat ANYTHING!  I promise you…it will help you stay on track.  You can also read the card before working out.  This is a very simple yet power action for staying on track and giving yourself what you REALLY want!