Motivational Strategies for Losing Weight

Motivational Strategies for Losing Weight

The media is flooded with images of thin starlets and even thinner supermodels. Of course, it is only natural to want to look good. After all, social psychologists have rated attractiveness to potential partners as one of the reasons of people’s choices of partners. Human beings are meant to be together, to live together as groups and societies. From an evolutionary perspective, living in larger groups conferred an evolutionary advantage, offering protection from carnivore animals. For example, chances of someone noticing a dangerous predator soon enough, or while others are sleeping is much more likely in large groups than for individuals alone.

Along these lines, fighting off a larger animal was more likely to be achieved by a group of individuals that by one individual alone. Indeed, evolutionary psychologists state that whichever traits conferred an evolutionary advantage were passed on, and thus, are more likely to be present among today’s population. The argument fits into the larger survival of the fittest Darwin’s theory.

But what does that have to do with losing weight and staying thin? Perhaps, the fact that one of the motivational strategy most often cited in living a healthy lifestyle is enlisting social support. While losing weight and keeping the lost pounds off may sound difficult at first, it is possible with the right amount of planning, effort and commitment. Healthy dieting and other lifestyle choices add up to make a difference. By the same token, going to the gym with a good friend is much more likely to be an enjoyable activity, than working out by oneself.

Keeping a clear vision of your goals may help you succeed. Keeping active and moving a lot is likely to contribute to weight loss. Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Another advice often given by psychologists is not to beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon. For example, if you eat that piece of candy, don’t catastrophize, it does not mean that you completely undid your diet plan and that you are destined to remain fat forever. Similarly, a kinder language towards oneself is also in order. Rather than calling yourself fat, you may use words like overweight or a few extra pounds to describe yourself. Finally, self-love, a positive self-image, commitment and willpower are some of the ingredients needed to stay motivated in shaping up and losing weight.