I no longer have anything to motivate me, but I haven't reached my goal weight.

Momepro

So why do it then? If you are happy where you are, move to maintainence for a while and decide if you like it. Nothing saying your current goal has to be the same place you originally chose, and that you can't decide you like your body the way it is.

Machka9

PrincessTinyheart wrote: »

I want to thank all of you for your patience and support. I'm feeling a bit better than yesterday... I went to my bellydance class tonight and that helped cheer me up. I'm excited about exploring the pole dancing class too..and now I want to work on losing the last 20 lbs so it will be easier to spin around... and I'll look better doing it :-)

Excellent!


And for me, aside from training for my cycling events and being able to climb (both cycling and hiking) up mountains, being lighter just feels better and allows me to do more. When I'm lighter I feel like I'm expending less energy doing simple things like dashing down to the photocopier or running for the bus or zipping through the grocery store or whatever. Plus my clothes hang better ... not necessarily that special dress ... my clothes in general fit better. I can reach into my wardrobe and grab a dress or skirt or blouse to wear to work, and it works. Daily life is easier.

Ruatine

I just read this on A Workout Routine's FB page, and it spoke volumes to me. It seemed appropriate to this conversation as well:

Here's a little secret about motivation.

Most people approach their goal of losing fat or building muscle with motivation as the sole (or at least, primary) factor getting them to consistently do what needs to be done.

This is great, except for one thing: motivation is temporary.

It goes up and down over the course of a day, comes and goes over the course of weeks, and completely vanishes and eventually reappears (if you’re lucky) over a span of months, years and decades. Just like an emotion, motivation is something that you can feel strongly one minute and then not feel at all the next.

So how do most people try to solve this?

By constantly seeking out new things that will provide them with additional *TINY* amounts of *TEMPORARY* motivation. Quotes, memes, videos, pictures. Whatever will give them another "hit" of the motivated feeling they crave and *THINK* they require.

Unfortunately, this doesn't actually work.

Even the best motivational quotes (or whatever) will only make you feel that nice "motivated" feeling for a few seconds. Maybe a few minutes.

But after that? It's gone. And it's time to seek out the next useless source of temporary motivation. And then the next. And then the next.

And in the end, what does any of this actually do for you? Virtually nothing.

Which is why the REAL solution here is to understand that your problem ISN'T a lack of motivation. Your problem is thinking that motivation is something you must constantly have in order to do what needs to be done.

It's not.

Rather, the key to your success (or lack thereof) is going to be your ability to do the important things even when you aren't feeling motivated to do so.

And that, above all else, comes down to self-discipline and creating the proper habits.

Not finding new motivation.

SmithsonianEmpress

PrincessTinyheart wrote: »

busyPK wrote: »

If I were in your shoes I'd talk to your husband and find something that you'd like HIM to buy you once you hit your next goal weight. Or something HE can plan for the two of you to do together. Maybe having him to hold you accountable will help? If that doesn't appeal to you, maybe you just need a little break from logging/weighing to decide what your motivation will be since you say you aren't at your goal weight yet.

Yeah, maybe that's it. I dunno. I think part of it is that I look around me and see that so many people are so strongly motivated by these super-healthy, super-active things and they seem to want to get in shape or achieve a specific goal to accomplish those things and I just can't relate to it... and part of me wonders if there's something dysfunctional about how I see life that prevents me from getting to that point, you know?

There really isn't anything my husband could buy me at this point that I would truly want enough to lose another 20 lbs.

Whaaaaaa....say it ain't so...a spa day, a delicious dinner, a getaway weekend, heck an uninterrupted bubble bath would do it for me. Lol!!! But maybe I'm just at a different place in life. You may already do/have those things.

jessiferrrb

PrincessTinyheart wrote: »

I had a sudden epiphany a few minutes ago...

I remember seeing some women at an outdoor festival doing pole dancing routines and thought it looked really awesome and a lot of fun. They teach a class not far from my house... I wonder if this could be a motivator for me? It's not competitive, it's a solo endeavor and allows for improvement and growth, and it looks like it would be a good upper body workout.

?????

that's pretty much how i started hooping and it's my favorite cardio now.

nancykim75

I have 15lbs of fat to lose and I'm just outside of what is considered a healthy BMI. I've been in a rut for quite some time, so no you are not alone. This Definitely feels like a different place than when you know you are reaching your goals. For me, I decided to not push the issue because I have been dieting and working out for the wrong reasons- perhaps the reasons were more about vanity and less about health and wellness. We get bombarded with messages that thinness is beauty. I needed a break from getting triggered that The reasons for dieting is simply about body image. Maybe there is reason that you are taking a break right now?
I too have been blessed with good health- have run 7 Marathons and try to eat well and workout but I know I can do better for myself and that it will make me healthier to drop my body fat.
My recent focus has been on getting stronger and eating to support a fun and healthy lifestyle. I've started to learn about weight training and have enjoyed watching my strength progress and getting to see results too. A couple of things have helped me- shifting the focus to the fact that you are gaining something by accomplishing your goal- or reset your goal to something that you actually want to do if losing your final 20lbs isn't something you feel is important. Whatever you land on- I hope your choice makes you feel healthy, confident, strong, empowered and fully present in your body!
Best wishes!
Nancy

PrincessTinyheart

So I just bought a 5 class package for pole fitness classes and have already signed up for 2... first one is this Saturday WOOOOOOO EXCITING!! I'm always looking for anything that will make me a little sexier so this might really appeal to me.

For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to something... and now I have a reason to stick to my diet... I don't want to be all chubby and heavy when I try to learn this

quiksylver296

PrincessTinyheart wrote: »

So I just bought a 5 class package for pole fitness classes and have already signed up for 2... first one is this Saturday WOOOOOOO EXCITING!! I'm always looking for anything that will make me a little sexier so this might really appeal to me.

For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to something... and now I have a reason to stick to my diet... I don't want to be all chubby and heavy when I try to learn this

That's so cool! You'll have to tell us how it goes!

SmithsonianEmpress

PrincessTinyheart wrote: »

So I just bought a 5 class package for pole fitness classes and have already signed up for 2... first one is this Saturday WOOOOOOO EXCITING!! I'm always looking for anything that will make me a little sexier so this might really appeal to me.

For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to something... and now I have a reason to stick to my diet... I don't want to be all chubby and heavy when I try to learn this

YAY! I am so happy for you. Glad you found something to be excited about. Please keep us posted. My upper body strength is garbage so I have never even attempted that. LOL!

amusedmonkey

This is great news! You have found something new and exciting that you might enjoy and this is always great news. Not to be a downer, but have you considered working on not being so heavily driven by motivation? It could be a great thing to work on while you are feeling good in order to be ready for similar situations in the future.

Katiebear_81

I'm glad that you have something to look forward to, now.

I wanted to come and say, though, that sometimes motivation fades, and we have to rely on habits. Habits are so important, they keep us going, which is what helps.

cqbkaju

"Motivation" will not do it for you, especially long-term.
You need to develop Discipline.

PrincessTinyheart

cqbkaju...nice profile pic

cqbkaju

PrincessTinyheart wrote: »

cqbkaju...nice profile pic

Mahalo!