It can be very frustrating to stay motivated and to lose weight. Sometimes I feel that I am always starting out, but never ending up where I want. But I’ve learned that to stay motivated for me requires setting and achieving small goals. The following tips always helped me lose the weight.

1. Drink more water- I used to drink water sporadically throughout the day, mostly at dinnertime. However, I found that I was dehydrated frequently. I tried carrying a water bottle around with me and it helped me to stay hydrated throughout the day. Plus, drinking first when I felt hungry prevented me from overeating frequently.

2. Divide meals into healthy portions- Dividing a meal into 1/3 veggies, 1/3 carbohydrates, and 1/3 meat will create a balanced meal. Make sure you at least have protein at every meal because it will keep you feeling fuller longer. Add vegetables and fruit into your diet. Rather than focusing on what you can’t eat, focus on what you can eat. Don’t eliminate all your favorite foods, but reserve them for the weekends. You will enjoy them more if you don’t eat them every day. Plus you won’t end up binging because you restricted yourself too much.

3. Weigh in daily with a digital scale- I weighed myself every morning and every night at the same time. A digital scale will show the difference in small tenths and hundredths of the weight so you can see small progress, plus you can track your body fat percentage. This also helps you to track your progress closer. Remember water weight and clothes can cause your weight to fluctuate slightly.

4. Don’t eat carbohydrates a few hours before bed- Restricting carbohydrates before bed will allow you to sleep better and lose weight. If you go to bed slightly hungry (not starving), your body will burn more calories. Eat protein if you get hungry close to bedtime.

5. Add a weight loss supplement - This will help you eat less and speed up your metabolism. Not only will you see results a little faster, but it will keep you more motivated.