How does your life change with weight loss?

Although everyone are unique and different individuals, there is some commonality to the reasons why people want to lose weight. The obvious long-term goals are to be healthier, take less medications, avoid significant medical problems such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, etc. From the "aesthetic" standpoint, looking younger, being more attractive to ourselves and others, finding renewed confidence and heightened self-esteem are also motivating factors. Getting back into clothes that did not fit anymore and being able to shop for more stylish outfits are also a benefit of losing weight. Regaining energy is yet another clear result of losing weight.

Your life does change significantly when you lose weight but sometimes we forget about the major positive effects. When we think "dieting" we equate that with sacrifice and deprivation...giving up "goodies and treats" and basically punishing ourselves. We fret that we will not be able to enjoy family gatherings, vacations, birthday celebrtaions etc. We cannot wait for the diet to "be over" so we can with glee, start going back to the old, "fun" behaviors.

Concentrating on the reasons as to how your life will significantly change for the better as you lose weight is an important mental exercise that you must go through to help you sustain your motivational forces. Are those 2 glasses of wine a night really worth risking the development of premature atherosclerotic hearts disease or diabetes? Is it really worth feeling that you have to hide your body from others by avoiding summer swimwear? Is it really worth feeling lower confidence and self-esteem?

Try to focus on all of the positive outcomes that will accompany your weight loss and this may help allowing you to stay "in the zone".