I am just wondering about some techniques for weight loss motivation and to maintain my mental fitness, as well as my physical fitness. I want to keep my level of determination no matter what happens, eg an injury, as I find my mental fitness depletes and I tend to feel negative about my skills and future performance.

Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness! Being mentally unfit means you are not prepared for the training ahead and failure is inevitable. To help you with weight loss motivation and to stay mentally fit, on track and motivated follow these tips below:

LEARN FROM YOUR PAST MISTAKES
There is nothing wrong with making mistakes, as long as you learn from them. Look back at where you went wrong last time, learn from this and use it to help you stay on track.

CHOOSE ACTIVITIES YOU ENJOY
To enable you to maintain your training over the long term you need to choose sports or training activities you enjoy. Your best results come over the long term, so if you don't enjoy it, you won't last the distance!

BE REALISTIC WITH YOUR GOALS
Set small goals along the way, rather than one big goal. Work towards your small goals and tick them off as you achieve them. It is a great feeling to achieve a small goal, and then set the next one. This helps to maintain your motivation.

BE INSPIRED
Use somebody else as your motivation (a celebrity or friend who you look up to) or aim for an event to help you stay on track.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
Use a diary and record all your training and diet notes. This prevents you from cheating and allows you to look back and review the goals you achieved.

BE ACCOUNTABLE
Tell your friends and family about your plans and this means you will be accountable to them on your progress. Otherwise it's too easy to quit and nobody will question you!