Why do we all want to lose fat? To look great right? Well exactly. This is why the next couple of measurements are important. Please make them fun and be honest without being too self-critical.

If you become too self-critical, then you will actually stall your progress. You will just want to harm yourself, abuse yourself and you won't want to give yourself the gift of a new, slim, sexy body.

Here they are:

Mirror

Yep, that's right. How good do you look on a scale of 0 - 10. How much are you improving? Just be careful about this one as most people see what they want to see in the mirror. See how you look in and out of clothes and focus on progress, not where you are. Are you starting to see your body change shape? This is a good sign.

Remember to focus on progress because continual progress means long term success. And it means that you will have a lifestyle of an energetic, vibrant, lean and sexy person.

Photographs

Do this once every few weeks. This can be a huge motivator, especially just a few weeks into the program, because this is where the interest for most starts waning.

One of the best motivators for many people is taking two photographs, a month apart and put them side by side. A lot of people don't give themselves the credit that they deserve, and doing this really brings this home and actually shocks people as to how much progress they really have made. Give yourself the credit you deserve and take time and do this for yourself. Keep this as part of your log and your journal.

 Clothes size:

This is a favourite for most people, and again, because it is objective, it can give you both an accurate measurement as well as serve as a huge motivator in your fat burning goals.

Please note that different brands will have different fits for the same size. Don't be disappointed if you've dropped a few pounds and are leaner, yet when you go to a store and try on some clothes from a different brand you don't feel any slimmer. If you're going to really use this as a measure, try wearing some of your old clothes and seeing how they fit.

Other people's opinions

This can be one of the most powerful measures and motivators - particularly if those people that are commenting are people that you don't see very often. If all of the sudden you are getting 'hit on' a lot more, people are looking at you and noticing you a lot more then you know you are doing something right.

If you do all the right things for healthy weight loss: eat nutritiously, and follow an exercise program that includes both aerobic and anaerobic exercise, as well as resting and recovering well, you will see changes, and you will find that people notice.

You may find that people just seem friendlier, especially members of the opposite sex. It is such a self worth and self confidence booster.

These external tracking methods all have the power to really boost your motivation to continue, so don't overlook them.