Motivation?

sexymom04

how do you motivate and keep yourself motivated?

PixelPuff

I think of all the cosplay outfits I can pull off when I finally get my flat tummy.

opalle

I think about a year from now. That year will come no matter what I do. I can either keep going, knowing that if I do, I will be healthier and in better shape, or I can go back to the path I was on before and be at an even higher health risk and heavier.

So far that has worked for me every time.

lorrpb

I remember how I felt physically and mentally a year ago. If I'm not going forward, I'll be going backwards. Don't want that.

missomgitsica

My small results motivate me. Like if I see the number on the scale go, even if it's half a pound, or if I notice I'm looking a little more toned in a picture . . . stuff like that is what motivates me the most! It makes me want to work harder and get even bigger results.

SherryTeach

I look at photos of my adult daughters and my infant grandson. I want to live a long and healthy life. And feel good every day.

Machka9

sexymom04 wrote: »

how do you motivate and keep yourself motivated?

How do you motivate yourself to go to work every day?

How do you motivate yourself to go grocery shopping, to vacuum the house, to do the dishes?

How do you motivate yourself to take a shower, brush your teeth, get dressed?

Really ... logging what you eat and staying under your max calories is no different.

lithezebra

I don't. Sometimes I'm motivated, and sometimes I'm going through the motions because that is what I need to do.

Machka9

lithezebra wrote: »

I don't. Sometimes I'm motivated, and sometimes I'm going through the motions because that is what I need to do.

Exactly ... and it's the same with going to work in the morning.

Some days, I'm motivated to go ... other days, I just go through the usual [getting up, showering, dressing up, catching the bus] motions in order to arrive at work on time. Even though my head is on a beach on the west coast of France.

jenilla1

I like myself the way I am. I enjoy being fit, healthy and energetic. The alternative is unacceptable to me. I'm getting older so I know it's more important than ever to stay in shape. That motivates me to maintain.

Lizzy622

lithezebra wrote: »

I don't. Sometimes I'm motivated, and sometimes I'm going through the motions because that is what I need to do.

Pretty much this. Get a plan mapped out when you feel the motivation and just stick through it even when you don't want to. I have reminders on my phone of when to workout and what to eat. Sometimes I am just going through the motions just doing what my phone tells me. Other days I am more motivate and those I use to tweak my plan or do a bit extra.

garysneve

Just remember your lapping the ones who are not bothering

vadersaysno

Sometimes I have a REAL hard time with motivation. I just try to think that if I don't get up and get to the gym, that's one day farther away my goals are. Then I look for other things- like I'm going to the beach at the end of August....and going to a friend's party out of town in October...and the beach next summer because I won't have gotten my unattainable goal by this August, but maybe by then...

lithezebra

Another thing that helps me do what I need to do, when I don't feel like doing it, is to set realistic goals, and break them down into manageable steps. I have a hard time restricting myself to 1200 calories a day, but 1500 is less than I burn, and I can stick to it. Maybe I'll shave another 100 calories off in a few weeks by deciding I don't need chocolate, but for now, staying under 1500 is my goal. I have a knee injury and the stationary bike is boring, but it's not so bad if I only do 30 minutes, or I blather on social media while I do it.

dubird

For me, it was the fact that I looked fat in my wedding pictures. But you need to take a good, honest look at why YOU'RE doing this to find your own motivation. We can all give you ours, but unless you internalize your own, it won't help for long.

lithezebra

I make the actions that I need to perform to reach my dream the goals, not the dream itself. I want to lose 3 more pounds, so my goals are to continue eating at a deficit, and get 30 minutes of cardio 5x a week. I don't get hung up on whether I want a piece of cheesecake more than I want to lose another pound, because the only goal is maintaining that daily deficit.

cwolfman13

motivation is a fleeting emotion...if you're solely relying on motivation, you're fighting a losing battle. we all do things every single day for which we are not necessarily motivated...why? because these are simply things that need doing right? how motivated are you to clean the house...do the dishes...go to work every day? my guess is that you probably aren't always motivated to do this things...yet you do them...how?

living for health...eating...exercising, etc...these are just things I do. for the most part I enjoy it..but yes, at times it can be tedious...or maybe I just don't feel like going to the gym...like today...i really don't feel much like running as I didn't really get a great nights sleep last night and I'm tired...frankly I'd rather lay down on the couch in my office and take a nap over lunch...but guess what? It's Wednesday...Wednesday means a 5K run...so run I will...and in the end I will feel better for having done it.

healthful living must simply become part of who you are and what you do...it has jack *kitten* to do with motivation.

Machka9

sexymom04 wrote: »

how do you motivate and keep yourself motivated?

Another question for you ...

Can you tell us what you mean when you ask "how do you keep yourself motivated?" Motivated ... to do what exactly?

-- log your food on MFP?

-- go for a walk at lunch?

-- say "no" to the fundraiser food bin in your office?


What specifically do you ... does a person ... need motivation to do?