Hitting
a plateau can make losing weight seem like a never-ending journey. If you find
yourself getting discouraged, remember that it was your enthusiasm and spirit
that gave you the impetus to lose weight in the first place. Since staying motivated and inspired
for the long haul is crucial to reaching your goals, it’s important to try to
reestablish the drive and momentum you had when you started. Stay on the right
track with these key tips for maintaining your motivation —
particularly when you hit a slump!
Become
your own personal cheerleader.
If you slipped on your healthy eating plan and ate a cookie or two, don’t beat
yourself up over it. Having a negative attitude about your mistakes only sets
you up for failure. Be confident in your ability to reach your goals and
celebrate your successes — no matter how big or small —
with some self-congratulatory pats on the back. Remember what a strong person
you are, especially when you set your mind to doing something as important as
losing weight and keeping it off.
Make a
commitment. We all get bogged down with work,
family matters, and life in general, but it’s essential to make time to focus
on what you really want and need. If you’re having trouble committing to your
healthy eating plan or your new exercise routine, just remind yourself about
why you want to lose weight, and then find ways to keep your goals firmly in
mind. Some successful members have reported that making an inspirational list
and carrying it around with them was helpful. Others have suggested putting up
visual reminders (such as “before” photos) on the refrigerator or hanging up
clothes they’d like to wear by the mirror or closet door. And many use our
online journal to record their goals and progress. Live by your own mantra and
make sure it’s powerful and compelling enough to help you break old habits.
Some examples are “I simply want to live longer” or “I want to beat
diabetes.”
Return
to the basics. Sometimes
we get so caught up in our everyday diet challenges that we forget about the
basics. It can be helpful to review the fundamentals of the South Beach Diet
and get re-oriented and recharged. Make sure you’re eating three balanced meals
a day (that means never skipping breakfast!) and at least two snacks. To avoid
getting bored with your meals and snacks, be sure to include variety. If you
know you’ll be on the run and won’t have time to prepare a healthy snack or
meal, keep some South Beach Diet Snack Smoothies or Snack and Meals Bars on
hand. They’re a convenient option on Phase 2 and beyond. Additionally, make an
effort to learn some new cooking techniques, change-up your usual healthy go-to
foods (have you tried jícama yet?), and experiment with a range of flavors and
seasonings.
Take on a Challenge. When you’re struggling, remind yourself that
countless others have felt the same way and, yet, they were able to find a way
to move forward and reach their goals. You can too! Seek support, motivation,
and advice from other members on the South Beach Diet Message Boards. You can
also join our South Beach Diet Community Challenges, where you’ll learn how to make significant
lifestyle changes so you can lose weight and keep it off for good. Our
Community Challenges are posted throughout the year, and they feature weekly
assignments to help you stay on track — every day. The focus of these
Challenges runs the gamut from incorporating fitness into your schedule to
learning new cooking techniques and ways to survive the holidays. Not a member?
Sign up to join the South Beach Diet Online today and
get access to our database of more than 1,000 recipes.
