I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself. – Mikhail Baryshnikov
Is there someone else that you are competing with during your weight loss? Are you continually comparing yourself to others while losing weight?
I suppose that if you have a body that loses weight quicker than others, this could give you (short-lived) motivation, however if you do not, it can be a real drain on your overall level of motivation.
Some people naturally lose weight quicker than others. They have a different body type, or perhaps they are following a healthier, more productive weight loss and exercise plan. If your entire motivation is based on competition and you are a very competitive person (and falling behind in the game!), it’s likely that you may just drop out of the competition altogether, thereby dropping your weight loss goals.
Another issue that can arise from competing with others during weight loss is that this becomes your primary motivation to lose weight. What happens when either the other people drop out, or you reach your goal and the competition is no longer present? You may end up regaining the weight and losing again to use the same type of motivation – competition. Because your motivation to lose weight wasn’t based on your own inner, long-term reasons, there wouldn’t be a reason to maintain it anymore.
In my opinion, the only one that you need to be concerned with is yourself, with your own weight loss progress. There is no need to compare yourself to anyone else, whether or not the people you are comparing yourself to are working to lose weight. You are unique and you are where you are today. You are the one responsible for you, and the only one who can determine where you will end up 1 month, 6 months, or a year from now.
You can actually compete with yourself and your own progress to as a way to maintain your level of motivation. You can set your goals, chart your progress, and commit to giving yourself non-food rewards along the way to your overall goal. If you compete with yourself, you will not be comparing yourself to anyone else when there really is no comparison since you are unique.
If you do find that your main motivation to lose weight is short-lived competition (with your sibling, neighbor, co-worker, spouse, or even a celebrity), you could refer to a previous post of mine that can help you find a solid motivation for weight loss.
