Many people tend to focus on
what they need to do to lose weight. But real, lasting change starts with understanding why you want to do it in the first place. Your "why" will be the foundation that keeps you going when motivation fades,
plateaus hit, or life just gets in the way.
Uncovering Your Why? Start Here
A strong "why" is more than just a goal—it connects to your values and is a unique reflection of your own journey. Saying you want to lose weight is one thing, but understanding why that matters to you makes all the difference. A clear and personal "why" turns a vague goal into a meaningful commitment.
Some common reasons “why” are:
- Want to be able to keep up with kids
- Lower risk of obesity-related diseases - Feel confident in your skin
- Be more mobile and physically active
- Fit into fashionable clothes
- Set a good example for family
Transform Your Why Into a Vision
Defining your “why” is an essential step to a healthy lifestyle, but going even deeper to build a personalized vision and mission. Once you have a top-level reason for losing weight and getting healthier, it’s time to take a step back and ask yourself a few key questions:
What will change in your life if you reach your goal? Who else benefits when you prioritize your health? What has held you back in the past?
We recommend writing your answers down. Read back what you wrote and refine it to get even more specific. Eventually, you will have a clear and emotionally meaningful strategy for weight loss that reflects your past, present, and future.
Another method is using “So That I” to further define a high-level reason why. Instead of simply saying, “I want to lose weight because [X],” you add to the sentence with “I want to lose weight because [X]... so that I [Y].” For example, you might go from saying “I want to lose weight to be healthier” to saying “I want to lose weight to be healthier… so I can do more activities with my family.” Or, instead of just “I want to lose weight to feel more confident,” go further with “I want to lose weight to feel more confident… so that I can feel fully present in my own life.”
Let us be clear, this is not easy work. But reflecting on your hopes, fears, and dreams can help you find a deeper motivation behind your healthy lifestyle changes. If you choose, working with a healthcare professional or counselor can help create a safe environment for you to explore your reasons for losing weight out loud.
Make Your Whys Your North Star
Your reason why should be what motivates you even when things seem dark. Think of it as your North Star, something you can always look for and follow to get back on track.
Once you’ve found your why, you can use it as a daily motivator. Here are some ways how:
Keep it visible: Write your why on a sticky note, make it your phone’s lock screen, or journal about it regularly. It’s your mantra, so keep it top of mind.
Filter your choices through it: When making choices about food, exercise, or lifestyle daily, ask yourself:
Does this align with my reason why? Revisit and revise: Your "why" may evolve on your journey, and that’s okay! The key is keeping it relevant and meaningful to you. Thinking about recent
non-scale victories is one way to help shine more light on your present-day whys.
So no matter where you are on your health journey, take a moment to ask yourself: What’s my why? Once you discover it, you have something to keep you company along the way—wherever your goals may take you.