Why?

What’s your weight loss motivation?

So you want to lose weight? But why? Often the answer will be to look good or to fit into your old size ten jeans. But what does it really mean to you? Goals without gravity rarely help anyone achieve results. So it is crucial to dig really deep. It may seem like a time consuming self-indulgent conversation to have with yourself but when we really understand what’s important to us and why, it helps give us direction and purpose. Just wanting to fit into our old size 10’s won’t cut it long term.

Often there is a disconnect between our values and our behaviours. It’s not until we sit down and realise this that we can really start coming up with sustainable and real solutions that get results.

So if your nutrition and fitness journey lacks direction and purpose, perhaps you have a history of starting strong and then lose motivation quickly. The best thing to do is start at the very beginning and work out what is really important to you.

The five why’s
The five why’s was a tool first used by the Toyota Motor Company, and it has been much copied since. You first ask yourself; ‘why do I want to accomplish this?’ Then with each answer simply ask another ‘Why’ until you have asked at least five times.

Here is an example:
So why do you want to make changes to your nutrition?
Because I want to lose weight
Why is that important to you?
Because I want to be able to run around and play with the kids
And why do you think being active with your kids is so important to you?
Well, I want to be able to set a good example for them and make sure they see that it’s important to be active and eat healthy food plus they are only young once, and I want to enjoy this time.
Why is this important to you now?
Now I’ve got kids it’s so much more important to me to be healthier so I can be around for them as they grow older.
Why have you decided now is the time to make a change?
I’m actually anxious about my blood pressure after recent doctors visit, and it really scares me to think that something could happen to me.

You get the idea, we will all have very different motivations but to understand our own values and take the time to really think about them makes a huge difference. Once we have done that every time you feel like throwing in the towel, it is so much easier to keep on going.

So take 10 minutes and sit down and really consider what your real motivators are.

WHY?
What’s your weight loss motivation?

So you want to lose weight? But why? Often the answer will be to look good or to fit into your old size ten jeans. But what does it really mean to you? Goals without gravity rarely help anyone achieve results. So it is crucial to dig really deep. It may seem like a time consuming self-indulgent conversation to have with yourself but when we really understand what’s important to us and why, it helps give us direction and purpose. Just wanting to fit into our old size 10’s won’t cut it long term.

Often there is a disconnect between our values and our behaviours. It’s not until we sit down and realise this that we can really start coming up with sustainable and real solutions that get results.

So if your nutrition and fitness journey lacks direction and purpose, perhaps you have a history of starting strong and then lose motivation quickly. The best thing to do is start at the very beginning and work out what is really important to you.

The five why’s
The five why’s was a tool first used by the Toyota Motor Company, and it has been much copied since. You first ask yourself; ‘why do I want to accomplish this?’ Then with each answer simply ask another ‘Why’ until you have asked at least five times.

Here is an example:
So why do you want to make changes to your nutrition?
Because I want to lose weight
Why is that important to you?
Because I want to be able to run around and play with the kids
And why do you think being active with your kids is so important to you?
Well, I want to be able to set a good example for them and make sure they see that it’s important to be active and eat healthy food plus they are only young once, and I want to enjoy this time.
Why is this important to you now?
Now I’ve got kids it’s so much more important to me to be healthier so I can be around for them as they grow older.
Why have you decided now is the time to make a change?
I’m actually anxious about my blood pressure after recent doctors visit, and it really scares me to think that something could happen to me.

You get the idea, we will all have very different motivations but to understand our own values and take the time to really think about them makes a huge difference. Once we have done that every time you feel like throwing in the towel, it is so much easier to keep on going.

So take 10 minutes and sit down and really consider what your real motivators are.