The beginning of a diet is generally an exciting time when your motivation is high and your intentions to lose weight and to keep this off are sincere. But as time passes and the routine of consistent weight loss week by week becomes more mundane, it is not easy to remain focused and to keep making the right decisions about the food you eat as well as your exercise regime. The following are proven ways to keep you motivated to make progress with your weight loss.

Sort through old photos of yourself. Tape the one on the refrigerator that you absolutely hate; a picture taken when you were at your heaviest weight. Tape it on the refrigerator or the cupboard where you will see it every time you go looking for a snack. Every time you see the picture tell yourself that you will never look like that again and this will help motivate you to not have that extra snack.

Chart your success plan by including rewards when your weight loss calls for this. Work towards goals detailed clearly like ‘When I have lost my first 10 pounds I will pamper myself with a day spa treatment’. When I wear the swimsuit on sale in the store, I’ll take a week off from work for an island vacation or even ‘When I lose 25 pounds and my face looks healthier, I will buy those diamond earrings I’ve been hankering after for years.

Begin your weight loss and enjoy the outcome of this across shorter timeframes as well as across the longer haul. Keep records of your diet progress and refer to these to enjoy the benefits of all your efforts and notice your increasing weight loss and your changing body shape week by week and over the longer time frame.

A blog can get you in touch with the world of like minded people who are trying to get into shape as you are and would love to share your experience. A blog is not only a successful way to keep you motivated and accountable but also a way to inspire others to do the same. So start up a blog today and enjoy the benefits of e-mails of support, suggestions that may help and heaps of encouragement for you to hang in there with your weight loss week by week.

A picture is worth 1000 words so flip through some of your favorite clothing catalogs and cut out photos of the clothes that you want to be able to wear when you are at your ideal weight. Pin them up on your closet doors, on your mirror, anywhere where you will see them. Stay focused on how you want to look when you are at your ideal weight, the time when your weight loss week in week out won’t be needed, then visualize this and it will help you make it happen.

Research all you can about successful weight loss by others either on line or in books or magazines. The efforts and achievements of people just like you can be inspirational and good to fall back on when your progress slows. Your goal will be to have just as successful a story to tell and inspire others with soon.

Step outside your life of food plans and exercise programs. Adding variety to your exercise by joining a basketball team, taking a dance class or even doing some cross country skiing on the weekend. Regardless of the time of the year you can always find activities that will be fun in the first place as well as a good way to continue your weight loss week by week.

Avoid people who are unsupportive or that sabotage your weight loss efforts. If you have a friend who always want to eat fast food or go get ice cream and tells you that it is OK to cheat on your diet ‘just this once’ or says other things that dampen your efforts, do not hang out with that person anymore. Do not let anyone hold you back from doing what you know is best for you - making healthy choices and enjoying your weight loss week in week out!