Day 4 Holiday Challenge

Why do you want to do this?

Today's Objective: Create a list of all of the advantages of maintaining or losing weight this Holiday season.

One of the classic ways of staying motivated over time is creating reminders to keep your eye on the prize. Since there are no "prizes" per se in this challenge, you have to come up with your own. It might simply be maintaining or losing weight.

In Habakkuk 2:2, God instructs his servant to "write down the vision." Those who write down their hope for the future seem to "run with it," that is, not give up. You will want to create a list that is simple and easily accessible. Putting this list on your notes or reminders app on your smartphone is the best way that I've found. Others have resorted to making sticky notes and placing it on bathroom mirrors, or making flash cards they can keep in their wallet.

Creating your list:
Your list should start to look something like all the reasons why participating in this initiative is good for you. What are the benefits of not gaining weight over this season? What will you feel like if you fail, and why don't you want to feel that way? What will you feel like if you succeed? What will achieving your goal enable you to do? How will you view yourself? How will others view you? If you achieve your goal, will it help you conquer other areas you wish to change or focus on in life?

This list isn't supposed to be exhaustive. You can always add as you see another advantage. You can always subtract as you achieve the particular advantage.

After you finish this list, read it at least every morning. Some people decide to read it during difficult times, especially around meal times, or when that particular trigger or stressor is leading you to eat or skip your exercise routine.

Your advantages are your own, and nobody has to see them. But they are your prize for this challenge. Consider adding a particular thing you will do for yourself if you accomplish your goal. It obviously shouldn't be "go on a binge," but maybe you schedule a nice massage, or take that day trip somewhere you've always wanted to go. What will you treat yourself with if you accomplish your goal?

Set yourself up to achieve your goals. Write down your advantages. Stay motivated!