How Can I Have Fun with Losing Weight? Happy Way of Losing Weight

Heather Campbell
 min read

How can I have fun with losing weight? It’s really not as hard as you think.

How can I have fun with losing weight? The happy way of losing weightLosing weight and dieting are not exactly the most enjoyable things in life. But losing weight doesn’t have to be boring, tedious, or challenging!

There are many ways to lose weight and the most successful results are obtained when you have fun doing it. Find a like-minded buddy, allow yourself the occasional small reward, make realistic short-term goals, find a sport or exercise you like (such as bouncing on a trampoline), and try out new foods and recipes.

Does dieting make you despair and think you’re going to miss out? Then think again and read on to discover how you can lose weight and have fun doing it.

7 Tips to have fun with losing weight

Always stay focused on your end goal

It can be challenging to stay motivated when making efforts against excess pounds.

Especially when things are more difficult, you may want to throw in the towel.

Therefore, it is vital to keep your end goal in mind. A great place to start are the health reasons for losing weight.

Consider why it is important for you to lose weight.

What are your reasons? What do you expect to accomplish when you lose those pounds?

Write this down somewhere and make sure that you read it when you’re about to go off track.

Are you a little creative? Then make a collage of things that motivate you, such as:

  • pictures of yourself when you were a few pounds lighter,
  • motivational quotes,
  • the reasons you want to lose weight, and
  • make sure to remind yourself of how far you’ve come.

Find a buddy to slim down with

Slimming down doesn’t have to be done alone. And how nice isn’t it when you can find a buddy who is going through the same thing you are?

Go exercise together, maybe a walking partner to burn some calories, motivate each other when the other is struggling, set specific goals, share tasty but healthy recipes, and celebrate the achievement of your goals together.

Just make sure that the person you will lose weight with is also well-motivated.

If you choose an insufficiently motivated buddy, this person may encourage you back into old, unhealthier habits.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

Total abstinence is the hardest thing in the world. Often you see that by banning your favorite cookies or sweets, you actually get more cravings for these sugary foods.

You can’t think about anything else, and losing weight then feels like a punishment.

So be sure to treat yourself to some treats once in a while. You don’t have to feel guilty because we have to live and enjoy life at the end of the day.

Just don’t overdo it. Enjoy a small portion and leave the rest for another time. Store these items in a cupboard and don’t leave them in plain sight (that way, you’ll be less tempted).

Challenge yourself sufficiently

And the common mistake is that people only set goals, expressed in terms of weight, that are primarily long-term in nature.

But merely setting long-term goals is not sufficiently motivating.

You need to keep it fun and challenging enough for yourself, even in the short term!

Therefore, set realistic and concrete short-term goals.

Importantly, these intermediate goals should align with your end goal of losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle.

Do you find it difficult to set realistic short-term goals for yourself? If so, contact a nutritionist and/or sports coach who can assist you in creating a realistic plan.

Finally, a small example of a short-term goal:

I’m going to exercise 3 times this week, I’m going to eat fruits and vegetables every day, and I’m not drinking alcohol or unhealthy sodas throughout the week.

Choose a sport you really enjoy

How many people reluctantly go to the sports complex or fitness center? If you are doing a workout or sports activity that you don’t really enjoy, you will likely quit.

It feels like having to and like a rut that won’t keep you going for long. Therefore, we recommend that you pick a sport that you enjoy.

Tip: Finding a sport you enjoy will also help you maintain your weight afterwards after you’ve achieved your weight loss goals.

Moving is more likely to feel like relaxation, making you more inclined to jump into action and burn calories more often.

You then logically burn more calories, making it easier to lose weight or at least maintain weight.

In any case, engaging in a fantastic sports activity can contribute to a negative energy balance (burning more energy than you take in).

Reward yourself periodically to celebrate accomplished goals

If you challenge yourself through goals, it is important to regularly evaluate the status of those goals.

Do this weekly, for example, and check in with yourself to see if you have achieved your short-term goals.

Also, think of an appropriate reward for yourself. Don’t think in terms of fatty foods or foods in general.

Find the reward in another area! For example, you can set aside a token amount of money each time you achieve a goal. 💰

The money you save in this way can then be used later for a weekend getaway, a nice outfit, a city trip or a last-minute vacation, etc. It will be well-deserved!

Try out new recipes

Expand your horizons and try new recipes, healthy recipes, that is.

Look around the Internet, read cookbooks, trade journals, and magazines, and watch cooking shows on television or YouTube.

Really challenge yourself to try new and healthy recipes.

Have you found a successful recipe? Then carefully save this recipe in a homemade recipe booklet (digital or paper), so you can easily find this recipe to make again later.

You can also try making your current successful recipes healthier according to these healthy eating guidelines.

Replace the extremely fatty cheese with a lower fat content, choose whole wheat pasta instead of white pasta, and opt for lean meat instead of the fatty variety. Use skim or semi-skimmed milk in dishes instead of whole milk.

This way, you don’t have to give up any dishes, and you can still enjoy them more healthily.

How can I have fun with losing weight? Conclusion

Losing weight doesn’t have to be an arduous job.

It does take discipline, but it’s more successful if you enjoy what you’re doing.

Find someone to share your experiences, have realistic goals and find an exercise that you like doing.

It’s a fact: enjoying what you do makes it work!

Related post: Why is it harder to keep weight off as you get older? Tips to lessen weight gain as you age

About Heather Campbell

As a nutritionist, my field of specialization is science-based nutritional advice but more importantly, it is my goal to share capturing and inspiring stories, examples and solutions which can help plus-size individuals overcome their specific difficulties. Read More