No motivation, how do you do it??????

merazt2013

Hi- So I have been married for almost two years now & I don't have any children, but I went from 125- now 160.
I also went from CNA to Bank Teller to Desk job which makes me snack all day out of boredom!!
I live in a small town so my lifes not all that exciting- my regular routine consists of mon-fri 8-5 work, dinner, tv, shower, bed. I know-BAD, but Its so hard to even admit that it has changed me
How did you get started? I barely downloaded this app with hopes that maybe Ill have a little motivation without spending so much money on videos & such.
I have friends that work out & stuff but I always had a bad mind set that nah, I can eat what I want I'm good. I had convinced my self that I was okay until my clothes is not fitting right I cant even wear a cute dress without showing of my belly I have to cover with looser fitting shirts so when I sit down I don't get embarrassed.
I'm on day # 2 with Jillian Michaels, & trying to eat healthy but I just don't know.........

FatFreeFrolicking

If you want to lose weight badly enough, you just do it. Getting started is the hardest part. Once you get into an exercise regimen, you won't want to stop working out.

Other tips I have are:

1) Log accurately and honestly.
2) Buy a food scale and weigh everything you consume.
3) Take measurements.
4) Drink enough water each day.
5) Don't eliminate an entire food group unless you have a medical condition which requires doing so… eat in moderation.
6) Since you have a desk job, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Don't park close to the store- park in the way back of the parking lot so you get extra steps in.
7) Depending on your endurance/stamina, Jillian Michael's might be too difficult for you. Start out with something light like a walk.

Alatariel75

I'm going to spruik my own blog here, but here's an answer I prepared earlier:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Alatariel75/view/a-slowly-changing-mindset-or-why-motivation-is-not-what-i-need-668330

jim_just_jim

Once you get started and lose a few pounds maybe that will keep you motivated. The MFP community is very helpful and friendly. Stay positive !

ljones27uk

One thing that got me started was realising how much time I wasted watching mind numbing tv... How much of the TV do you watch is actually worthwhile entertainment? I found most of what I watched was plain dull and was just a means of whiling away the evening... What a waste eh! Now if I find myself watching something that fits in this bracket I have a deal with myself that I can go back to watching once I've burnt some cals exercising. When I go to snack on junk I remind myself of how bad I felt when I could no longer fit into my favourite shirt, or how good it felt when I lost my first stone! I tell myself the junk food will be gone and long forgotten within 1 minute of eating it, but the feeling of being leaner and fitter is with me constantly. Each to their own of course, but these couple of things, along with finding MFP in the first place really helped me.. Always up for more friends if you want to share posts /ideas, I find seeing other people sticking to their goals really helps me with mine.. Good luck

manderson27

Hi. We all have to start somewhere and you have come to the right place. It is hard to get started but if you just make small changes they will lead to bigger ones as you go on. This site is a great place to start.

First thing I did was to log everything and I mean everything that I normally ate for a week or two. I was a bit horrified to realise how many calories I was consuming. Then I set about making some adjustments to lower my intake. Portion size was my worst area. This gave me a starting point and I just aimed to keep within the goal set by MFP.

Then I started going into the forums and reading all the advice, good and bad and used the good stuff to help me adjust my diet and fitness regime. I started losing weight. Logging in every day, making friends, getting great advice and encouragement made it so much easier than doing it on my own.

Don't look for quick fixes.
Lift Heavy plus some cardio. (worked for me)
Stick to a reasonable deficit (don't restrict your calories too much)
Check out the success stories and read the forums to keep you motivated if others can do it so can you.
Don't quit

I am sure you can do this and MFP will help a lot. Good luck.

bennettinfinity

One of the analogies that gets thrown around quite a bit on this site is: how do you make yourself go to work every day? It's kind of the same mindset - it's important so you do it. You just need to convince yourself that changing your lifestyle (moderate eating / increased activity) is important enough to make it a priority.

Good luck!

999tigger

You seem to have two different challenges.
1. Boredom with your life and routine.
2. Going from 125-160 and the associated issues.

Wont really comment about 1, but write down a list of changes you would like to make, interests, ambitions, fun things you enjoy doing and places youd like to visit, things you enjoy doing or would like to learn and then figure out how to get from A ro B.

The weight loss is where the site comes in. If you read the stickies and learn about weight loss then you will be in a good position of knowledge to understand how it works and the importance of the deficit created by burning more than you consume and moving more. This will give you weight loss.

If thats what you want, then maybe write down all the things you think weight loss will give you and they can be reasons that might inspire or push you. Baby steps and short term goals are great ways of getting you started. I get the feeling that you are unsure because you dont have the surefire knowledge if you can do it or even whether you want to put up with it?

I can say if you burn more energy than you consume by eating less and moving more then you will lose weight.

If you prepare properly and consistently do the above every day for a number of weeks/ months then you will get to your target weight, just like the thousands that use this site.

Along the way you will have challenged yourself, learnt about weight loss, nutrition and maybe done some exercise that are all excellent skills for your future wellbeing. By achieving target then it will probably give you more self confidence that you have conquered such a challenge , you get to wear the clothes you like etc.

The motivation has to come from you, but theres nothing to stop you losing weight once you decide to commit and can deal with everything else that comes with making some lifestyle changes. Learn what its about and that should give you a better idea ,focus and believe that you can make the change.

gcwillig

FatFree has given you great tips.

From a "newbie" (I have only been on MFP 60 days) I have to say the motivation has to come from within. I am 46, married for 28 years and 2 kids (23 and 16 yo). I could have stayed morbidly obese for the rest of my life and my Hubby and kids would never have spoken a word about it. They love me for who I am. I, on the other hand hated my body, my weight, and the limitations that it put on my life. I have a happy life, but knew that I needed to make changes in order to really enjoy it.

I wake up at 530am every morning, yes, 7 days a week and get on the treadmill for an hour. Do I want to? No. Does it physically hurt? Yes. Do I force myself to do it anyway? Yes. Do I weigh, measure and log EVERY bite that goes in to my mouth? You bet I do. Why? Because I am worth it. Wanting to live a longer, fuller, happier life is all the motivation I need. You must find that want/need within yourself.

You are worth it.

hamoncan

If you're not sure - you could just try logging your calories anyway even if you aren't dieting yet. I'd be really surprised if when you start having to look at what exactly you're eating and how the calories add up that you won't be spontaneously motivated to start changing your eating habits.

I force myself to log my bad days or special holidays, etc. so I'm forced to acknowledge them and see what would happen if I made it a habit out of doing that.

I originally got on MFP for moral support for my wife without any big intentions about where I was going with it but it caught a hold of me and my weight is going down steadily and I'm kicking myself for not doing this sooner.

Just try it, I'll bet you can't help but catch on so long as you stay honest with yourself and your logging.

mumma2boyz

Getting started is the hardest part. I always tell people not to shock the system. If you turn on the light switch to be healthy, you will just as easily turn it off when you get discouraged. List your goals and take it one week at a time. This is not a diet. Not a quick fix. Who cares if it takes you three months to go from couch potato to fitness machine. What do I mean by this? For example, if you don't drink water, spend a whole week focused on incorporating water into your day. If you don't eat breakfast - and you should - then spend a whole week forcing yourself to eat breakfast. Even if it's not healthy. Next week your goal can be to up your game and eat a healthy breakfast. And don't try to eat healthy and work out the first week. It's too much at first. Take some time and just focus on your eating. It's a lot of work to learn how to eat right. Once you get that down pat, start moving your body. 80% of weight loss is what you out in your mouth anyway.

Ewok31

I look in the mirror naked all the motivation I need

merazt2013

thanks everyone for all the great advice! I will surely try to incorporate a lot of it, & I do appreciate it.

jgnatca

Here's a fresh video from ted that provides some insight on how differently we see our worlds.
http://www.ted.com/talks/emily_balcetis_why_some_people_find_exercise_harder_than_others
If you don't like the way your life is, you can choose to change it up or do nothing. Both are choices. I think you could accomplish a lot by starting to log what you eat (to get some insight), and adding a few activities you enjoy to your week.

merazt2013

jgnatca wrote: »

Here's a fresh video from ted that provides some insight on how differently we see our worlds.
http://www.ted.com/talks/emily_balcetis_why_some_people_find_exercise_harder_than_others
If you don't like the way your life is, you can choose to change it up or do nothing. Both are choices. I think you could accomplish a lot by starting to log what you eat (to get some insight), and adding a few activities you enjoy to your week.

I will definitely check it out- Its so scary what I actually eat gah! eye opener!

katherine_startrek_fan

i think the most important thing is to have an ultimate reason for wanting to lose the weight.

The next challenges in motivation are:
1. Finding foods within your calorie needs that are satisfying
2. Finding exercises that you enjoy

My tips:
1. Choose all natural and organic foods over regular, especially when it comes to frozen meals. More delicious and often more satisfying.
2. Eat the foods you enjoy, but try to find ways to make them healthier. Honestly practically any food you cook at home is going to be easier than anything you can buy from a restaurant or fast food establishment.
3. Similarly, smart swaps are great, like trading a higher calorie item for a lower calorie alternative, such as 80% ground beef for 93% or draining the fat.
4. Choose exercises that fit into your lifestyle. If you wish you spent more time out and about, maybe you should take classes. If you prefer being a homebody after a long day, a workout video from the library may be your friend. Dont choose just one though or you may burn out. Additionally, multiple exercise types will work your body out in different ways.
5. Choose at least one exercise that you have a way to track your improvement and develop goals to keep advancing. When I started doing 5K's, my first goal was simply to finish. Now I can jog the whole way and am determined to pick up the pace so that I can move up to a faster starting group!
6. When you go out, look up nutritional data. It will help you make better choices.
7. Don't ever feel like you have to give up the foods you love; just learn to fit them in.

The idea is that you're improving your life, so think about what would make it better for you!

merazt2013

katherine_startrek_fan wrote: »

i think the most important thing is to have an ultimate reason for wanting to lose the weight.

The next challenges in motivation are:
1. Finding foods within your calorie needs that are satisfying
2. Finding exercises that you enjoy

My tips:
1. Choose all natural and organic foods over regular, especially when it comes to frozen meals. More delicious and often more satisfying.
2. Eat the foods you enjoy, but try to find ways to make them healthier. Honestly practically any food you cook at home is going to be easier than anything you can buy from a restaurant or fast food establishment.
3. Similarly, smart swaps are great, like trading a higher calorie item for a lower calorie alternative, such as 80% ground beef for 93% or draining the fat.
4. Choose exercises that fit into your lifestyle. If you wish you spent more time out and about, maybe you should take classes. If you prefer being a homebody after a long day, a workout video from the library may be your friend. Dont choose just one though or you may burn out. Additionally, multiple exercise types will work your body out in different ways.
5. Choose at least one exercise that you have a way to track your improvement and develop goals to keep advancing. When I started doing 5K's, my first goal was simply to finish. Now I can jog the whole way and am determined to pick up the pace so that I can move up to a faster starting group!
6. When you go out, look up nutritional data. It will help you make better choices.
7. Don't ever feel like you have to give up the foods you love; just learn to fit them in.

The idea is that you're improving your life, so think about what would make it better for you!

thank you, I take these into consideration.

BrittTomore87

Honestly I wasn't motivated until I had people telling me how great I looked and that they could tell I was slimmer. Until then I forced myself to workout everyday. Now I'm in love with running and it's just kind of a habit.

Kalikel

If I'm not motivated, I don't do it. I've been very motivated. All I need to do is look at myself, lol. The fat is very motivating, as is knowing that I can lose it.

Suzettedl

Hi! I feel the same. Three kids and running around...really nothing to look good for. Then, I went to a concert. I realized I looked awful. I am going to schedule something fun to try to look good for. Maybe that will motivate me...and maybe it will motivate you too!

merazt2013

BrittTomore87 wrote: »

Honestly I wasn't motivated until I had people telling me how great I looked and that they could tell I was slimmer. Until then I forced myself to workout everyday. Now I'm in love with running and it's just kind of a habit.

I love running, I use to all the time.. I cant wait to get back on track its so hard

gothchiq

The motivation was in the mirror. I looked like crap and I was sick of it. I couldn't get cute clothes in my size. Photos made me barf. something had to give.

Unknown

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JoRocka

I mean- I guess you can give up some dinner time AND some shower time. then you get workout time and perhaps more sleep time!




my 2 cents... for whatever they are worth (probably not 2 actual pennies honestly- but whatever)
motivation has nothing to do with anything.

Motivation is the spark that starts change.

consistency and pure force of will and determination to the cause make it happen.

dont' rely on motivation- pick a goal- set a path- and follow the path.
- let nothing stand in your way.

Holly_Roman_Empire

JoRocka wrote: »

I mean- I guess you can give up some dinner time AND some shower time. then you get workout time and perhaps more sleep time!




my 2 cents... for whatever they are worth (probably not 2 actual pennies honestly- but whatever)
motivation has nothing to do with anything.

Motivation is the spark that starts change.

consistency and pure force of will and determination to the cause make it happen.

dont' rely on motivation- pick a goal- set a path- and follow the path.
- let nothing stand in your way.

Basically all this. Losing motivation is a good excuse to quit doing a good thing, so don't rely on it. It's inconsistent, just like positive feedback from the scale is inconsistent. Sheer will and determination will keep you going. Do you need to be motivated to take a shower or brush your teeth every night? My best advice is to make yourself a routine and don't deviate from it.

JayRuby84

JoRocka wrote: »

I mean- I guess you can give up some dinner time AND some shower time. then you get workout time and perhaps more sleep time!




my 2 cents... for whatever they are worth (probably not 2 actual pennies honestly- but whatever)
motivation has nothing to do with anything.

Motivation is the spark that starts change.

consistency and pure force of will and determination to the cause make it happen.

dont' rely on motivation- pick a goal- set a path- and follow the path.
- let nothing stand in your way.

^^^ This!!

yoovie

i do it when Im not motivated AND when I am motivated.

Jams009

Discipline>motivation.

Motivation is worthwhile; it makes things easier, but discipline gets results. The question is not how to stay motivated, but how to train yourself to carry on when you are not.

If you haven't already, try and find some active friends on here (add me if you like). I find accountability and sharing experiences helps a lot.

xShreddx

When I first realized I had to lose weight, I was like 25 years old. I dieted, lost the weight and then stopped. I gained it back years later and dieted, lost weight and stopped. I gained it back and a few years ago joined MFP. I tracked food, dieted, lost weight, stopped and again gained it back. Why? Well, I now realize that tracking what I eat is a lifestyle change I must make from now on. This time around I've also added friends that help motivate me cuz they struggle like I do but they are losing weight! We learn from each other. Also, I've added exercise too. I'm doing an hour a day for 6 days a week and that's been great....if for no other reason, it buys me calories I can eat! In summary, I guess the motivation for me is knowing what the future looks like if I give up. I don't wanna be fat. I want to be healthy and look good. What's the alternative? It's not good! Good luck and surround yourself with friends on here and stay away from the bad stuff!

yoovie

“Everything you want should be yours:

the type of work you want;
the relationships you need;
the social, mental, and aesthetic stimulation that will make you happy and fulfilled;
the money you require for the lifestyle that is appropriate to you;
and any requirement that you may (or may not) have for achievement or service to others.

If you don’t aim for it all, you’ll never get it all. To aim for it requires that you know what you want” ~ Richard Koch