by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: August 11, 2010

You might have it in your head to lose weight one day, but without the determination to put your weight-loss plan into action nothing will ever change. You need to do more than just hope to lose a few pounds. If you’re going to lose any weight you actually have to make some changes to your eating habits and start doing more exercise. You’re unlikely to do any of these things if you don’t have the determination to succeed, as even if you do try to change your habits this will only be a temporary state of affairs.

Instead of sticking to a calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise you will soon find your commitment to weight loss ebbing away. When you go out with friends for a meal you just want to enjoy yourself without worrying about the number of calories you are likely to consume. Similarly, if it’s Christmas or you’re on vacation or it’s a special occasion you simply want to relax and eat and drink whatever you want. If you don’t have enough determination to stick to the plan this is precisely what will happen, even though you are unlikely to lose any weight.

However, when you’re in the moment you don’t think about how you could be jeopardising your weight loss as you’re too busy enjoying the food you’re eating. It’s only afterwards that you’re left feeling guilty and if this is the case you might eat some more to stop you thinking about it. You soon discover the cost of ignoring your calorie-controlled diet, though, when you step on the scales and learn that you haven’t lost any weight. Indeed, if you have completely neglected your diet and not bothered to exercise at all you may have even gained weight.

It is therefore clear that determination is a useful quality to have when embarking on a weight-loss program, as without it you will be easily distracted from your aims. It isn’t enough to talk about what you need to do to lose weight, as you actually have to implement some changes to your lifestyle to get the outcome you want. Losing weight isn’t particularly easy, anyway, and so you have to find the determination from somewhere if you are going to succeed on your weight-loss journey. It is likely to take you quite awhile to reach your goal and if you don’t have the determination to succeed you will probably use any excuse to give up trying.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Wilkinson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.