Keep Your Motivation Going Strong
By Robin Westen | 2/12/2002

When most of us start a new project, we vow to keep our enthusiasm on full throttle and hope to see it through to the end. Indeed, desire and motivation are the dynamite duo. The former gets us going, and the latter keeps us on track.

Yet after the initial inspiration, motivation sometimes loses steam. This is especially true when hard times throw you off track.

Motivational speaker Jeff Keller, author of Attitude is Everything (INTI Publishing & Resource Books, Inc., May 1999), agrees that maintaining staying power can be tough: "No matter what the task, there's usually some obstacle or temptation to keep us from our goal. That's why it's so important to stay positive."

Top Ten Attitude Enhancers
Help keep your mind set on achieving your goals. Here's how:

1. Celebrate the here and now. Don't look too far ahead. As long as you're committed to your plan, you're succeeding, because you're taking charge of your life.
2. Change your language. Keller suggests scratching negative phrases from your vocabulary — such as "No," "I can't" or "I'll try" — and substituting with the positive. Say: "Yes!" "I can" and "I will." Remember, words are mightier than the sword. But pictures speak louder than words. So...
3. Create visual inspiration. Take a photo of yourself before you start your weight-loss plan. Tack it on the refrigerator, bedroom or bathroom mirrors or inside the food cupboard. As you reach new goals, take new pictures. See how far you've come!
4. Weigh in. Weigh in at your weekly meeting, and keep a chart of the results. Look at your overall progress and visualize that chart whenever you're tempted to cheat.
5. Believe in buddy power. Exercising with friends is always more fun. Schedule days you can meet, and if one of you tries to bow out, act as the other's conscience. Find a buddy to work out with on Weight Watchers Fitness Challenge board.
6. Steer clear of sabotage. Avoid people who put you down for trying to lose weight, or who encourage you to eat too much. Often these folks feel threatened by your weight loss. It may be plain jealousy.
7. Set mini goals, like initially focusing on losing 10 percent of your body weight. "By setting realistic goals," says Keller, "you're more likely to reach them, feel successful and move on from there." In other words, keep each day doable.
8. Reward yourself. When you've reached a goal (and remember: keep them small) you deserve a treat. Buy a new outfit, small piece of jewelry, book or diary, or take yourself to a play or movie.
9. Keep it out. Don't store your exercise gear under the bed. Treadmills, bicycles, weights, even sneakers and exercise outfits should be left in plain view. This way you won't hide from the fact that you need to exercise. When you see it, you know there are no excuses.
10. Read success stories. Inspiration often comes from reading about the way others have found success. Just think: One day the story is going to be all yours!