Every year, millions of people make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. For the first week or so, you eat and exercise like you’re an athlete training for the Olympics. By the time the first few weeks roll around, you’ve probably fallen off the wagon a few times and are seriously slipping back into your old ways. So how can you stay motivated to keep losing weight? Here are 10 reasons to stay motivated to lose weight in January.
- Become healthier
Losing weight comes with a whole lot of health benefits. You’ll not only look great, but you will have seriously lowered your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. You’ll look just as good in the inside as you do on the outside.
- To live a long life
According to statistics, obese people are 2-3 times more likely to die prematurely than people who are at their optimal weight. If that’s not motivation to put down the cheeseburger and fries, then what is? You only have a finite amount of time on earth so you might as well live a long and healthy life by eating right and exercising. Your family and friends are hoping you’ll make the right choices to be around as long as possible.
- Get back to into those old jeans
Fitting back into an old pair of your favorite jeans has worked as motivation for a lot of people. Once the newness of the whole New Year’s resolution thing dies off, you’re going to need something else to help you keep motivated and track your progress. There’s nothing better than the feeling of slipping into those old jeans and zipping them all the way up.
- Look better
Let’s face it – people look better when they are at their ideal weight. Looking better leads increased physical and mental health according to weight loss experts and psychologists. When you look good, you feel good.
- Lose the holiday pounds
The average American gains around five pounds during the holiday season. Shedding those holiday pounds can serve as great motivation to lose weight during the month of January. An extra five pounds can take those already tight pants to virtually unbearable. Think of how you’ll feel when you drop back down to your pre-holiday weight. It might even spur you on to lose more.
- Increased confidence
One of the main reasons people want to lose weight has absolutely nothing to do with their physical health. Our looks obsessed culture has tied physical appearance to self-esteem. It’s a fact that most people who feel good about their weight have increased confidence.
- Improve quality of life
Overweight people simply have a harder time in life doing the little things that thin people take for granted. When you’re in shape, you can enjoy activities instead of becoming winded just walking up a small flight of stairs.
- Look good in a bathing suit by summer
Let the months of June, July, and August motivate you January. If you’re already hitting the gym and diet hard in January, just think of what you’re going to look like in that Speedo or bikini come summer time.
- Reach personal goals
People who have lost a significant amount of weight have a tendency to start achieving personal goals they never could before. Chances are if you lose weight, you’ll get the courage to meet other goals like going back to school or applying for that promotion.
- To not make weight loss a recurring New Year’s resolution
Making and continually failing your New Year’s resolution of losing weight can really weigh on your self-esteem. If you want to keep motivated during the month of January, imagine that next January you’ll be at your goal weight and won’t ever have to concern yourself with a New Year’s resolution about weight loss again.
