Find your “WHY”.
This may feel like taking a step backwards, but I assure you, this is the most important step in any weight loss journey. It will keep you going, and just as importantly, if it is a strong enough “WHY”, it will help make this the last time you attempt a weight loss journey.
Finding your “WHY” may seem like a simple task, and really it is. However, it deserves some inner soul searching and some deep thinking. Your “WHY” should be something that is personal to you, but also something that will motivate you to do what needs to be done, even when you are feeling challenged. When things get tough, when you want to give in and just go ham on an extra-large pizza, your “WHY” will be what you look back on and fight those urges with.
Think about what bothers you the most. Think about what keeps you up at night. Think about the things that your weight have prevented you from doing. Think about the things you want to do in the future that your weight may prevent you from doing. Even think about your looks. There is no shame to wanting a rockin’ bod.
Now think about how your life will be different once you reach your goals. What will you accomplish with this new body of yours? Write that down. Write it in detail. Can you picture it? It may be hard to imagine, so take your time and truly put into words what you want out of this weight loss journey.
Type that up and print it out or make a motivation board with that in the center. However you wish to display, just display it in a place that you can see every day. That will be the building block to the new and improved you. Whether it be health, or fitting into a booth, or playing with your kids/grandkids/nieces and nephews, or being active with friends, or fitting into those cute clothes, or going to the beach in a bikini or board-shorts, we all have a why that will drive us to our goals.
Your “WHY” is personal to you and no matter what it is, it will be what makes you committed to this journey. When you “don’t feel like it”, when you just want to give in, when you think you cannot stay on track, when you think it isn’t worth it, when you start to lose focus, your “WHY” will be there to remind you what you want, and why you want it.
I will end by sharing my personal “WHY” with you all.
Mine are very personal to me, as yours should be to you. I lost my mother at a young age. If she hadn’t been obese, she would have survived and probably still be with me to this day. I do not want to die young, so I am learning from her and making the changes I need to make to live. I have a few smaller “WHY’s” as well. I have back issues that would be lessened without my weight. I want to be able to go on hikes with friends, without being the guy in the back holding everyone up. I also want to improve the way I look, nothing wrong with wanting to be sexy 😀
– Coach Robert
