Motivation is the key that drives a person to make important changes and STICK to those changes. Motivation to loose weight is one of the key factors that will ensure that the individual undertakes steps to make changes and CONTINUES with the new learnt behaviour.
People are motivated by various internal or external factors to loose weight and get healthy. A health scare for example is one of the more direct factors demanding a person to make significant changes as soon as possible. Not fitting into a favourite item of clothing, noticing the sudden change in scales, (insensitive )comments from others regarding one’s weight are also some of the external factors that make reality bite and motivate someone to make changes to their lifestyle.
In individual may not always be internally motivated to loose weight. Clients experiences of depression, anxiety, stress and other mental disorders may especially struggle to find the motivation to be ‘kinder to themselves’ or have unhealthy methods of managing their painful emotions such as by indulging in food and alcohol. To those clients, I encourage them to find reasons external to themselves to make them make the change.
I hear people say ‘Do it for yourself’! I say, if you cant do it for you, do it for someone you love and care about! Become healthy because you want to be a good role model for your children, because you want to be a stronger partner, or a good child to your parent or a healthy friend to have. That will help you kick start the process of being healthy and once you start enjoying the results such as weight loss, more energy levels, high confidence etc you will CONTINUE being healthy for yourself too!
Levels of motivation vary depending on so many factors. But if you have the right mindset, you are able to manage the other factors (such as being sick, limited financial resources, limited time etc) in an effective manner and still achieve your health goals.