Why Do You Want To Lose Weight?

Do you know why you want to lose weight and get in better shape?  Is it for your kids, because you made a deal with yourself, or maybe you just want to look better? Stick with me and please read this...it could make or break your results.

by Ed Scow, NSCA-CPT (aka The Fit Dad) - Fitness and Nutrition Expert to the true superheroes - busy Moms and Dads! and Author of Fat Loss To Go

Whenever I start working with a new client, I always start by asking a simple, yet very important question. While I say "simple" that doesn't mean it's always easy to answer...it's usually not and requires much more digging on my part until we come to the right conclusion.

It's not grandiose in the sense of telling you which foods will help you lose a bazillion pounds of fat, or leave you with enough energy to jump to the moon and back - both of which are immensely important - rather this is something a bit different.

It's more "mental" and involves a very simple question...

Are you ready?

Why are you doing what you’re doing?

And by that, I’m of course referring to your fitness/weight loss goals and not why you’re watching another episode of “American Idol” or “Real Housewives of New Jersey”.

In the common sense of the phrase that’s not incredibly personal, yet it is quite personal…at least it SHOULD be.

Seriously. Why are you doing what you’re doing? Why did you set your goals?

Why do you want to lose 15 pounds by March 15?

Why do you want to lower your cholesterol by 50 points?

Why do you want to lose stomach fat, be more defined and stronger?

Do you know why?

Have you sat down and thought about why you actually want to achieve those goals?

Sure you want to lose 15 pounds to look better, but why do you want to look better?

It doesn’t matter if it’s for vanity or health, but you MUST know that reason.

They keep you on track and give your goals a “life.”

It’s far too easy for us to get off track. We chase “shiny things,” let others dissuade us (which is infuriating), allow ourselves to give up when the times get tough, or make the mistake of looking at things from a small perspective and having that strong “reason why” will make you stick with your goals.

Remember that your goals are yours and belong to no one else. They are yours and what someone else is doing, or wants you to do, or says shouldn’t matter if it doesn’t fit with your goals.

If you went the entire month of December and “only” lost 2 pounds (in the toughest month of the year to lose weight), that’s NOT a failure and you should not give up or move off your path…a path you know will work.

If your friend decides to try a fad diet and tries to convince you, but you know you will achieve your goal, and maintain it, with the healthy track you’re on, remember your “reason why” and kindly tell her to “buzz off.”

On the other hand, if you don’t know your “reason why,” you won’t have the strength to stick it out and will fall flat on your face within a month or two, become infuriated, give up and try again some other time – most likely with the same end result.

Make sense?

What I want you to do is take a few moments and really think about why you want to achieve your goals, and then write them down and if you haven’t written any goals yet…do that immediately!

Okay?

Now rock on with your bad self!