The Dieter's Corner

Getting motivated to start dieting

No motivation to start dieting? Maybe you're trying to take too big a step to start. Forget the big step and start small. Start really small and do take lots of little steps one at a time, until the little steps add up and become a "big" step. All of the small steps you traverse will mean lots of small successes. These small successes will give you the motivation (aka encouragement) you need. This encouragement is the way to get motivated when you think you don't have what it takes to start a diet.

Here are some ideas for small steps you can use to up your motivation to diet:

• Think more about anything related to dieting, losing weight, emotional eating, etc.
• Write a list of the pros and cons for losing weight and a list of pros and cons for not losing weight
• Set the tiniest weight-loss goals for yourself so that each goal-step will be painless—yes, absolutely painless (This in itself is a goal you should shoot for.)
• Try out some tiny changes to your current eating behavior, note the results, and use the feedback to make additional tiny changes

There are lots more very little things you can do to ease into dieting without having that big motivation obstacle stop you before you even get started.

So what's the first tiny step you can take?

The Health Journal column in the Wall Street Journal (July 1, 2008) pointed up the ongoing controversy about the advice we've heard so often: Drink eight 8 oz glasses of water a day—to speed weight loss, and for overall optimal health.

Among the research cited by the WSJ column was Dr. Heinz Valtin's (Dartmouth Medical School) 2002 review of studies on drinking water in the American Journal of Physiology. Dr. Valtin found that there was no concrete scientific evidence to prove that 8 glasses a day achieves either of the above-mentioned results.

One thing experts do agree on though, according to the Health Journal column, is that individuals need different amounts of water depending on the physical activity they are engaged in. For example, it goes without saying that if you are exercising, you'll need to drink more water than if you are sitting at your desk doing paperwork.

Weighing in with a different slant, Weight Watchers recommends that dieters drink 6 glasses of water a day, specifically to take the place of snacking. Others in the dieting field also think that drinking water helps people feel full. And some people just seem to feel better when they drink more water.

Try this
What about you? What evidence do you have that drinking a certain amount of water each day leads to speedier weight loss or contributes to your overall health? Do some research (on yourself) and see the outcome. Does it match the skeptics or the converted?

© Maria's Last Diet. Maria's Last Diet is an online weight loss support website for women. At Maria's Last Diet, you'll find the tools to fix the thoughts, feelings, and automatic habits that fight against you when you diet. Because it's never just about the food. Visit www.mariaslastdiet.com for more diet tips and weight loss motivation.

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