Are you struggling to stay motivated during intermittent fasting and keep that fasting fire burning? Fear not, we’ve got good news. In this blog post, So What IF? with Jen has compiled 20 simple yet powerful ways to keep your motivation levels sky-high throughout your intermittent fasting journey.
These easy-to-follow tips will help you stay focused, energized, and inspired to reach your health, wellness and weight loss goals.
#1: SET CLEAR & REALISTIC GOALS
Setting clear and achievable goals is an effective way to help you stay focused and motivated during your intermittent fasting journey. This is because it gives you a clear target to aim for. It’s also important to be realistic and break your fasting goals into smaller, manageable steps to prevent feeling overwhelmed. When goals are realistic, you’re more likely to see progress, which boosts your confidence and keeps you motivated to stick with your fasting routine.
#2: TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
Keep a journal or use an intermittent fasting app like LIFE or LITELY to track your progress, including fasting hours, weight loss, and how you feel each day. Consistently tracking your progress with a powerful tool is a great way to see tangible results and stay motivated.
#3: CELEBRATE MILESTONES & SMALL GOALS
Celebrate small victories along the way, whether it’s reaching a new fasting goal or fitting into a smaller clothing size. Reward yourself for achieving fasting milestones to maintain motivation and track progress. Keeping a gratitude journal is also an excellent way to remind yourself of the positive and beneficial effects of fasting and to keep yourself motivated and in the game.
#4: FOCUS ON HEALTH & NON-SCALE VICTORIES
Intermittent fasting is definitely not just an extremely effective weight loss plan. In fact, even if I hadn’t lost 46 pounds in 4 months with intermittent fasting, I’d absolutely still fast. This is because intermittent fasting offers so many incredible health benefits and life-changing non-scale victories that have nothing to do with body weight.
Remind yourself and focus on the numerous health benefits of intermittent fasting, such as improved energy levels, mental clarity, and longevity. Additionally, take time to recognize the progress you’ve made, such as improved sleep quality or better-fitting clothes, to appreciate the positive changes from fasting.
#5: EXPERIMENT WITH NEW “IF” RECIPES
Explore new intermittent fasting recipes and meal ideas to keep your meals exciting and prevent boredom.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN MY INTERMITTENT FASTING RECIPE CLUB TODAY!
#6: FIND A SUPPORT SYSTEM
Join an intermittent fasting community or find an accountability partner who shares your intermittent fasting goals. This can be an extremely effective strategy for staying motivated and feeling encouraged.
And, if you are looking to connect with incredible people who love to support other fasting friends, please consider joining my Free Intermittent Fasting Facebook Support Group: SO WHAT IF? with Jen.
#7: VISUALIZE SUCCESS
Picture yourself achieving your goals and imagine how you’ll feel when you reach them. Visualize a healthier version of yourself in the future, focusing on positive feelings like confidence, balance, and vitality to reinforce your commitment to intermittent fasting. Consider creating visual reminders of your goals, such as a vision board or sticky notes, to keep you motivated and on track.
#8: PLAN AHEAD
Having a well-thought-out plan ahead of time is important for staying motivated with intermittent fasting because it helps you anticipate challenges and find solutions before they arise. By preparing your meals and fasting schedule in advance, you can avoid last-minute temptations and stay on track with your fasting goals.
Check out this incredible 7-Day Intermittent Fasting Meal Plan that offers a variety of healthy food that will help you to plan ahead and stay on track with your goals.
#9: PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
Practicing mindfulness during intermittent fasting helps you tune into your body’s hunger cues and emotions, allowing you to make mindful choices about when and what to eat. By staying present and mindful during meals, you can appreciate the nourishment your body receives and stay motivated to stick to your fasting and weight management goals.
#10: STAY BUSY DURING PERIODS OF FASTING
Keep yourself occupied with activities and hobbies to distract from hunger and cravings during fasting periods.
#11: REWARD YOURSELF WITH NON-FOOD FUN
It’s important to reward yourself for sticking to your fasting schedule. Additionally, setting short-term goals and treating yourself to non-food fun when reaching those goals can be very powerful. Non food-related rewards such as a relaxing bath or long walk, new workout clothes or a trip to the shopping mall can prove to be extremely motivating and pretty darn fun. too.
CLICK HERE to reveal 101 Non-Food Activities to Make Fasting Easier and More Fun!
#12: STAY POSITIVE & SEEK INSPIRATION
Seek out intermittent fasting success stories and testimonials from others who have successfully practiced intermittent fasting for motivation and inspiration. It’s also important to routinely read inspiring blogs, watch videos or listen to podcasts about successful intermittent fasting journeys.
You can read my full intermittent fasting success story on Gin Stephens’ fasting website. Additionally, CLICK HERE if you’d like to listen to my intermittent fasting success stories podcast interview with Gin.
#13: EDUCATE YOURSELF
Stay motivated by educating yourself about the science behind intermittent fasting. Take the time to learn about how intermittent fasting can greatly benefit your health and support your weight loss goals.
Here are the 3 best intermittent fasting books. These books easily helped me understand the science behind fasting, as well as, the many potential health benefits related to this new healthy lifestyle.
#14: MIX UP YOUR FASTING ROUTINE
One of the best ways to stay motivated is by mixing up your fasting routine. Mixing up your fasting schedule keeps things exciting and prevents boredom, making it easier to stay motivated with intermittent fasting. Additionally, experimenting with different fasting schedules also challenges your body in new ways, which can lead to better results and sustained motivation.
#15: DON’T OVERLY RESTRICT YOURSELF
Avoid restricting specific foods excessively during your eating window to prevent feelings of deprivation and potential binge-eating behaviors. It’s also important to take a balanced approach when it comes to calories and food intake during your feeding window. Extreme caloric restriction may result in poor sleep, low energy and other potentially negative/dangerous side effects.
By allowing yourself to enjoy occasional treats, you’re more likely to stick with intermittent fasting in the long term and stay motivated.
#16: PRACTICE BALANCED EATING
When it comes to following an intermittent fasting plan, choosing the right foods is a great help when trying to stay motivated and on track! Whether your daily eating period is an eight-hour window or a 4-hour window, it’s important to focus on nutrient-dense foods like lean proteins, colorful vegetables, and healthy fats.
These healthy diet foods keep you full, provide energy, balance blood sugar levels and can make a significant difference when it comes to motivation and long-lasting weight loss success.
#17: GIVE YOURSELF GRACE
Be compassionate with yourself during challenging times and avoid negative self-talk that can hinder motivation. Be kind and acknowledge that intermittent fasting is a journey with many ups and downs, plateaus and successes.
#18: KNOW YOUR WHY
Knowing your WHY for fasting reminds you of the reasons behind your efforts. And, it keeps you motivated and focused on your goals. Whether it’s improving your health, getting better sleep, losing weight, or increasing energy so you can live a more fulfilling life, understanding your purpose gives you the drive to stick with intermittent fasting even when it gets challenging and you’re having a hard time staying the course.
MY INTERMITTENT FASTING WHY: My why and main motivation for living an intermittent fasting lifestyle is to reap all of the incredible health and weight maintenance benefits. I want to be healthy and feel energized so that I am able to enjoy many more exciting vacations with my husband of 24 years, and love of my life.
#19: DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS
Unfortunately, like the famous Theodore Roosevelt quote says, “comparison really is the thief of joy” and comparing yourself to others during intermittent fasting is a dangerous place to be. It can lead to lack of motivation, as well as feelings of inadequacy.
Remember that everyone’s journey is unique, and focusing on your own progress and goals is key to staying motivated and achieving success.
#20 STAY CONSISTENT
I saved this tip for last because it just might be THE MOST IMPORTANT. Consistency is key to seeing results and staying motivated with intermittent fasting.
Staying consistent with intermittent fasting helps your body adapt to the routine. And, this makes it easier for your body to become fat adapted and to stick to your fasting schedule over time. Consistency also builds momentum and reinforces positive habits, leading to better results and increased motivation along your fasting journey.
The Final Motivation
In conclusion, staying motivated during intermittent fasting is all about finding the strategies that work best for you, implementing them on a regular basis, and staying consistent with your efforts. Keep pushing forward, my fasting friend. You’ve totally got this!
Thanks for stopping by, hanging around and reading my blog post. Today, I’d like to leave you with one of my all-time favorite motivational sayings:
