If you are not as physically fit or as slim as you would like to be, there is a reason; and more than likely it is not genetic or situational, it's motivational. And there is an easy way to change that. It's a simple trick, but simple is usually best.

There are only two things you need to give yourself maximum drive to become more physically fit and lose the weight you want to lose: a carrot and a stick. It really works and people have been using this method to motivate themselves and one another for, well, probably for as long as people have had sticks and carrots, so a long time. In fact in sales a very similar technique is called the Benjamin Franklin close. If you aren't much of a news junkie, he died a good while ago.

Firstly and you must absolutely positively do this - set a goal and write it down. There is a famous 10-year study that was begun in 1979 that involved Harvard business school graduates. This study found that after ten years the graduates that had written goals were earning 10 times more than those that didn't have written goals.

Now keep in mind Harvard business school graduates are going to tend to be a bit more successful and more of just about everything than the general population yet this one factor separated the cream of the crop from, well, the cream of country, so to speak.

So you must absolutely write down your weight loss goal and don't write, "I want to lose twenty pounds." (Particularly, don't write that if you are 60 lbs overweight.) There are several things wrong with approaching your goal that way. Don't focus on what you want to lose; put the focus on what you want to be. Remember Stephen Covey's excellent advice, "Begin with the end in mind."

Let's say you are a woman of moderate height and you way 165 lbs. If you think your ideal weight is 130 lbs, don't write you "want" to loose 35 lbs. Write what you "are" going to be. Your goal should be written thus, "On May 10, I will be svelte and lean 135lbs."

Writing your goal this way will help you to begin to visualize yourself how you want to be and how you will be if you follow the plan. Note I didn't say - in three months or what have you. Write down the day that you plan to weigh-in and exactly what you want to weigh on that date.

The diet and exercise program you are on will help you determine how long it will take to reach your ideal weight. Don't attempt to lose faster than your plan suggest, but on the other hand, don't be too conservative about the total amount that you can lose.

Secondly, don't put your goal away where you will never see it. Put it somewhere where you will see it at least once a day. Some people put goals on there mirror, which is fine, except for the steamy showers that make the marker run and the paper crinkle and before long your goal has melted into the tile floor.

I've heard of people putting their goals on the dash of their car, which I cannot in good conscious advocate. It seems we have enough things to distract us from paying attention to the road without taping our life plans over our speedometers. In fact, if you happen to be reading this while you are driving down the road right now- STOP! (I mean reading. Not the car. And I don't mean to take a break reading so you can text someone while your are driving.)

So state your goals in the positive. "On such and such date, I will be..." and keep the paper somewhere where you will look at it every day, your desk drawer, your pocketbook or wallet.

Your goal is your carrot. It is what will keep you on the plan and will keep you highly motivated. Now, the third step will really multiply the motivation. Take a blank sheet of paper and at the top write, "I am really excited about weighing 130 lbs because:" and list all of the benefits that you can think of for being at your ideal weight.

For example, your appearance, your confidence, your health, (there is a recent American Cancer Society study that determined being overweight increases your chance of developing cancer by up to 50 percent) your sexuality, your athleticism, your ability to keep up with your children, your spouse, your lover, or your want to be lover. I'm sure you can go on and on. And be as specific as you can. As you read your benefits list, visualize yourself at your ideal weight and in your ideal condition and enjoying those benefits as vividly as you can.

This is very important and more powerful than it sounds. It is an extremely effective technique and has been used in many different situations to achieve some amazing feats.

The fourth step is very similar. Take another sheet of paper and write at the top of it,
"Failure to reach my goal of 130 lbs will mean that:" List the negative effects of being overweight.

Again, be as specific as you can. You don't need to look at these lists as often as your goal, but use it as a tool to help you stay motivated and stay on the diet and exercise plan that will get you to the goal. There are numerous plans that will really work for you, but you have to take the first steps in keeping yourself motivated. If do this then you will be able to reach your fitness goal. See you at 130 lbs.