Need Motivation to Lose Weight?

Is your child overweight? Does she need a boost of motivation to lose weight? Attitude is everything; Kids in Balance (KIB) can help you both choose a good one!

When working on lifestyle change, how you and your child think about the change makes a huge difference in whether or not the change happens. Attitude also impacts whether or not the change is simply for a week or two or if it becomes an integral part of your family life. Call it inspiration or attitude, regardless it has a strong role in dieting motivation, fitness motivation and the motivation to lose weight in general.

So how do you stir up motivation in yourself and your child? First spend some time talking with your child about how the excess weight he carries is impacting his life. Have him think about what might be different if he was at a healthier weight. Seeing the possibility of having new opportunities and experiences can be a powerful motivator toward change.

Next figure out the kind of rewards that might provide the motivation to lose weight for your child.

• Does he enjoy playing games? If he makes a week's worth of healthy choices, let him choose the board game you'll play for a family night.
• Has your son taken on more of the physically active chores around the house? If he has done a good job, let him have a "chore-free" Saturday.
• Has your child had his eye on a new bike? Set some longer term goals and after several months of meeting those goals (and saving up his allowance and birthday gift money!), split the cost of the bike with your son.

It is easier to find the motivation to lose weight, and all the good choices that entails, if there is a reward that uniquely meets the needs and interests of your child.

Great Ways to Set Goals

Remember as well to set attainable goals. It is hard to stay inspired if the expectations have been set too high or if the goal requires the uncertain cooperation of another person. While your son may enjoy walking with you, his goal needs to be to do a certain number of laps around the block to which he can "invite" a parent to participate. Setting a goal of walking with mom means when mom can't make it, the goal can't be met. Ensuring the goal can be met by your child alone, if he chooses to follow through with the activity, means you have empowered your child to make good and healthy choices.

Ultimately the motivation to lose weight comes from an inner source. Setting up appropriate external motivators, and being sure goals are appropriate and able to be met by your child alone, however, go a long way toward encouraging growth in that internal inspiration!

If you and your child would like an additional kick-start of motivation to lose weight, feel free to purchase my Overweight Kids in a Toothpick World book. By ordering this complete explanation of the Kids in Balance weight loss program you will have, right at your fingertips, clear and simple stages to work through, worksheets, recommendations, recipes and Day-at-a-Glance Guidelines. If that sounds like the kind of inspiration you would find helpful, be sure to reward yourself with KIB support! With this unique, simple, effective weight loss program for kids and teens, you should find the inspiration to lose weight flows naturally and easily!

If you would like even more support to go along with Overweight Kids in a Toothpick World, purchase Coach, ten weeks of helpful newsletters designed to provide further insight and encouragement for you and your child during each stage of the KIB journey.

You are also welcome to download the free handout, 10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Get Your Kids in Balance.

Return from Attitude to Homepage