Despite pressure from friends, magazines, television, and the movies, deciding to change your physical appearance, whether that be through a healthy diet and exercise program or by cosmetic surgery, should only ever be done if you are doing it for yourself and your health, not someone else's opinion on your appearance.
Losing weight, when you are doing it for the right reasons, seems hard to start with, but as soon as you begin to see results, motivation, and increased willpower will come thick and fast!
With that being said, read on to discover four tips for maintaining your willpower when focusing on a healthier lifestyle.
1. Reward Yourself
You only have one life, and to permanently ban yourself from eating your favorite candy bar or cream cake will only serve to punish you in the end.
Obviously, rewarding yourself after a full day of avoiding junk food with a slap-up meal at McDonalds the next day is counter-productive, but by all means, at the weekend, if you fancy a glass of wine or a bowl of fries, one treat certainly will not hurt.
The last thing you want is to resist that chocolate bar all day, replacing it with low-calorie cookies and other ‘healthier' alternatives, only to give into temptation and have the chocolate in the end anyway.
2. Acknowledge that Sugar is an Addiction
If you struggle with resisting the pastries and cakes at the cash register when grocery shopping and have always had a sweet tooth, then reframing your thoughts surrounding the contents of such sweet treats may help you to recognize them for what they are.
It is true to say that, in small quantities, darker chocolate does contain antioxidants and other substances to help you control your blood pressure, but several large chocolate bars a day will do nothing to aid your new healthy lifestyle.
You must remember, accept, and acknowledge that sugar is highly addictive, and once you spend a week or so reducing your sugar intake, the craving for sweet things should be lessened.
3. Buy Yourself New Things! (You Deserve Them!)
In the same way managers incentivize their employees to work harder, you could also promise yourself treats and experiences other than food or drink for success in your achievements, such as a mobile phone upgrade, a new piece of furniture, or even a new outfit or two.
Additionally, take a look at the range of modest bikinis for women available online, and be sure to choose the right style of bikini to suit your core body shape.
4. Visualize Your Goals
Whether you are a visual thinker or not, having a photograph of you at a healthier weight pinned to the fridge and surrounding your desk at the office with motivational quotes will definitely help keep you on track and maintain your willpower.
You could also look into downloading apps to help you record calories and workouts, some of which even allow you to record your measurements and weight every time you check to show you your progress in real time.
