Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation for Weight Loss
Everybody has different reasons for wanting to lose weight and stay fit. Some people want to look good and feel good in their own skin while other people enjoy the process of self-improvement. It doesn’t matter what your motivation is as long as you make an effort to create healthy habits. If you’re having trouble getting off the couch, you may benefit from learning about the two types of motivation most relevant to weight loss.
Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation both play a role in long-term weight loss, but there are times when each of them is more beneficial for weight-loss success than the other.
Extrinsically Motivated Weight Loss
Extrinsic motivation is when you’re motivated to lose weight for an external reward. Some extrinsic rewards are easy to spot such as buying a new outfit after a week of dieting, but, some extrinsic rewards can be more subtle because they don’t involve something physical.
Extrinsic motivation can be excellent for short-term changes in your eating habits or to kick-start a weight-loss program. For example, if you want to fit into a certain size dress by your wedding having that extrinsic goal with a deadline can be a powerful motivator.
The downside of extrinsic motivation is that once you achieve your weight-loss goal, it may be hard to maintain your new body. With the wedding dress example, once the wedding is over, you are likely to regain your lost weight now that you don’t have the motivation to eat healthily and exercise.
Intrinsic Motivation
If your goal is to lose weight that stays off, intrinsic motivation is the more powerful form of the two. Intrinsic motivation is when you self-motivate yourself through goal setting. For example, if you set your weight-loss goal at 1 pound per week for 10 weeks but there’s no reward for doing losing the weight, why would you bother? The process of losing weight and reaching your weekly target is motivation itself.
Intrinsically motivating yourself is a great way to change your habits so that you lose weight that stays off long-term. However, using intrinsic motivation by itself may not be enough to light a fire under you to start your new weight-loss program.
So Which is More Effective?
Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation play a role in weight loss. However, if you want to lose weight that stays off long-term, finding intrinsic ways to motivate yourself may be more effective. If you have trouble beginning a new weight-loss program, you may need an extrinsic motivator to get started.
No matter your motivation, if you’re ready to lose weight and eat healthy, sign up to attend a FREE introductory seminar at BodyTech in Rockville. We will help you achieve your best. SIGN UP NOW!
