Let’s not sugarcoat it, losing weight can kinda suck. And getting in the right headspace and making the commitment to yourself to lose weight can be just as hard as actually losing it—at least it has been for me. After lots of winter hibernation, one too many glasses of wine, and a general relaxed vibe to life, I’m working on getting back into the groove. Here’s what’s helping:

Get more sleep

Metabolism and sleep are controlled by the same areas of the brain, so sleep is a direct correlation with dropping lbs. Without a good night’s sleep, your body will have trouble regulating your metabolism, and you’ll have trouble hitting your weight loss goals. Also, you’re more likely to skip the gym when you’re tired, so sleep up!

H20

Seems pretty straightforward, but drinking more water is not only good for your overall health, it’s crucial for your metabolism. If you’re struggling to lose weight, try increasing your water intake and see what happens. Try to drink at least half your body weight in ounces per day.

Make a vision board

I love this idea for getting motivated for any aspect in life. The idea is to create a vision board that you see every day that basically represents what you want to attract in your life. Whether it’s a workout outfit you’ve been eying or a model with arms you’d kill for, create a Pinterest or physical vision board with these images.

Take baby steps

Instead of trying to go from 0 to 100 overnight, make small changes that will help you achieve your weight loss goals. For example, try cutting out sugary drinks one week, followed by trying to hit 10,000 steps each day another week. It’ll be easier to create habits that you’ll actually stick to if you introduce them slowly and give yourself time to adjust.

Clean your pantry

Since we all get cravings from time to time, especially when trying to lose weight, it’s important to remove all temptations for when those cravings hit hard! It’s so easy to have a cheat day and tell yourself you’ll start over “tomorrow.” I learned that in order to keep myself honest, and to stay on track, I have to remove all the bad stuff from my home. That unfortunately means no hidden stashes of sweets, and no frozen pizzas in the fridge.

Find a workout you love

I have a love/hate relationship with working out, as I’m sure many of you do, too. It took me awhile to realize that running wasn’t for me, and I’d continue to force myself to run. It’s no wonder I’d lose motivation and fall off track with my weight loss goals pretty much ASAP. Finding something you enjoy and look forward to each day is super important to keeping you on track with your workouts.

Cut out sugar

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to weight loss, cutting out processed sugar is probably the single biggest thing you can do to see an impact. This not only packs on pounds, but it totally kills your energy aka motivation.

 Always check nutrition labels, and don’t forget that there are other names for sugar, like high fructose corn syrup for example.

Reward yourself

Setting realistic weight loss goals and rewards for hitting them is something you should definitely do. Personally, I’m all about buying myself new workout clothes or shoes for hitting certain milestones.
 Orrrr Pressed Juicery.

What gets you back in gear?