3 Weight Loss Motivation Tips That Are Actually Backed By Science

One of the things that I hear from my followers the most (next in line to, "How did you lose all that weight?!") is, "I've lost motivation," "I just need to get motivated," or some variation

And I get it - I used to be 240 pounds (and I am only 5' 2"), and I told myself the same things - "I don't have any energy," "I just cannot get motivated." And those things just feel HARD.

And, if you follow me on social media, you've probably heard me say several things about motivation, including that you cannot rely on it.

I share things (often) that I know help make the tasks that we need to do in order to be successful at losing weight...the things that make creating habits (when you're starting again or starting from ground zero) much easier. But, I like when things are proven. Backed by science...because when there are studies done...research...well, you can't argue with that.

So I did my research, and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found (if you follow me on social media, you will understand why...

And here you go...three weight loss motivation tips, that are actually backed by science.

1. Join A Community Of Like-Minded People

 I was very happy to see this one, because I KNOW first-hand how much this helps! But I will also tell you that, when I was first introduced to this (on my Day 0), I thought to myself, "I don't need that." MAYBE it was because I was a MAJOR introvert (still an introvert, but I've learned to become a little more extroverted when it's needed).

Here is what the science says...

Research done in the, " Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology," shows that social support is KEY for igniting your weight loss motivation.

People who start (and I personally believe that this goes double for women) a weight loss program with a community are more likely to complete the program AND are more likely to MAINTAIN their weight loss when compared to those who try to do it alone.

2. Track Your Food

I am a big believer in this one too. It is also something that I have my members do - whether it be in our app or in a notebook. It's so easy to think that we are eating healthy...and then we get on the scale, it doesn't budge or goes up, and then we say, "It doesn't matter what I do, nothing works!" And really, part of the problem was, we weren't eating as healthy as we thought we were (I don't know if you've ever done that, but I definitely used to).

What the science says...

According to a study in the journal, "Obesity," researchers found that, women who were obese, who tracked their food intake (and it didn't matter whether they were using pen and paper or tracking meals digitally, in an app, etc) were more likely to have long-term success managing their weight.

3. Follow A Sustainable Plan

Again, if you follow me on social, you KNOW that I talk about this all of the time (just like the other two for that matter). I have first-hand experience with what happens when you try the latest fad diet...the one that tells you to cut carbs to 20 grams per day, the ones that tell you you'll lose 30 pounds in a month, Yo-yo dieting. Losing weight, and gaining it back (and almost always, gaining back more than you lost). I know because that was me for the majority of my adult life.

And again, here is what the research says...

The nutrition option that's best for you is the one that you are most likely going to stick with. This is backed by research in a study in the, "Journal of the American Medical Association." To put it another way, if you love bread, following Keto or swearing off carbs isn't your best option. If you love dessert, following a diet that doesn't work sweets into the plan from time to time isn't going to work for you. Instead, find an option that lets you enjoy an occasional breadstick or one that "works" desserts into the plan.

I hope you found this helpful. For more motivation, and all things weight loss, be sure to follow me on either Facebook or Instagram. You can find the links to my social media channels below!