Weight loss motivation

Redbirdz83

I'm in need of some motivation when it comes to eating. I've done it before and I know it do it but I would like support and accountability. I have a 2 and a half year old and I told myself that a long time ago I would like to get back into a certain size, I feel like the last year I have been up and down with everything and want to feel good about myself again. I'm looking for new friends and motivation!!!

kommodevaran

It's distressing that there is a designated "motivation" board in here, because motivation is not very reliable. You win by implementing good habits. You're also only accountable to yourself. To lose weight, you just have to eat a little less, so what are you trying to do?

TavistockToad

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1

Redbirdz83

kommodevaran wrote: »

It's distressing that there is a designated "motivation" board in here, because motivation is not very reliable. You win by implementing good habits. You're also only accountable to yourself. To lose weight, you just have to eat a little less, so what are you trying to do?

TavistockToad wrote: »

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1

I agree, I probably should have worded it differently because I know what I need to do, it's just nice to know there's other people who are going to the same thing.

Cassandraw3

Hi! My son is a little over 2 and a half as well and I have finally taken the time this year to lose some of the weight I put on when pregnant. I will add you!

countcurt

Ditto on the motivation hype. Although certainly there's something that has prompted each of us to get started. It might have been motivation. But what carries you through is good habits and, sadly, some discipline.


On the latter, that might come down to 'willpower'. Or deprivation. It's the deprivation I find interesting. It seems like that's the 'key' to most successful commercial diet plans: NO DEPRIVATION. I don't buy that. I also don't buy that there is anything inherently wrong with a little deprivation, other than we've been sold on the concept that we shouldn't 'have to be' deprived of anything in order to achieve our goals. I explain here:

https://countcurtblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/big-boy-pants/

orngnerdz

I'm also looking for new friends and motivation to stay on track! I've been working on my fitness since June and have recently hit a roadblock. I'm hoping internet friends can help me stay happy and healthy! Add me as a friend!

Sharon_C

If you rely on a temporary emotion you will get temporary results. Only you can do this and you have to want to bad enough to make a commitment and see it through

thisPGHlife

Sorry in advance for the length.

countcurt wrote: »

Ditto on the motivation hype. Although certainly there's something that has prompted each of us to get started. It might have been motivation. But what carries you through is good habits and, sadly, some discipline.


On the latter, that might come down to 'willpower'. Or deprivation. It's the deprivation I find interesting. It seems like that's the 'key' to most successful commercial diet plans: NO DEPRIVATION. I don't buy that. I also don't buy that there is anything inherently wrong with a little deprivation, other than we've been sold on the concept that we shouldn't 'have to be' deprived of anything in order to achieve our goals. I explain here:

https://countcurtblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/big-boy-pants/

I see what your saying but I think part of it is perspective. Deprivation, to me, seems like there is a certain amount of negative perspective going on. It's also passive language. To say that you feel deprived of something means that you don't have any control in the situation. For me, the moment I lose any amount of control over my situation, or my reaction to a situation, is the moment I give up.

I think the alternative perspective is self control and delayed gratification. These words seem to have a more positive feel to them as well as taking back the power in your words. I don't feel deprived of a food, I'm demonstrating self control because I am not willing to make room for it in my calories. Or, I am choosing to delay my gratification and work that food into a day where I have moved more and created the wiggle room to fit that food into my calorie allowance.

Language has power. The way we talk about ourselves, others, our eating habits, everything, it all has an affect on how we navigate situations. Yes I think we need to be ok with feeling a certain amount of hunger. But it's not about depriving yourself of being full, it's learning your body's hunger signals so that you can make educated decisions on when and what to eat.

I hope this isn't coming across as me telling you that you're evil or wrong because that's not my intention. I have struggled for over two decades with my relationship with food and much of the struggle was giving up my power.

How this relates to motivation (and again, this is just my opinion):
As others have said, motivation is not a lasting tool to rely on. While it may get you started, it's what you do with it that counts. Take that motivation and turn it into a plan. Turn it into habits. Turn it into knowledge. Set realistic, long term goals for yourself. Break them down into realistic, short and medium term goals. Start working on building the day to day habits that will get you to those goals. Have a back up plan in place for when things go sideways. Weight loss, and any goal, is not about free falling and waiting for the moment. It's about setting yourself up for success but realizing we are human and things will go south every once in a while. You retain your power to accomplish your goals in the way you speak to yourself. You can not control every situation and you can not control other people, but you can control how you react. Motivation won't be there for you 100% of the time and it's in those moments when you truly need it but it's nowhere to be found, that your able to either dig deep and keep going because that's what needs to be done to reach your goal, or find the power to forgive yourself for one meal or one day or one week because regardless of the set back, you know that at the next meal or next day or next week, you are going to pick up where you left off because it is worth it and the foundational habits are there.

countcurt

There’s no doubt that there’s a lot to be said for that feeling of control one has when one is making decisions that support achievement of their goals. And, honestly, I think most overweight people have little real idea of what it feels like to be hungry. (A situation readily remedied by opening a can of string beans but which never seems to satisfy most of us.). That doesn’t change the fact that, in order to achieve those goals, you sometimes have to deprive yourself of something (in this case, food). I put the term in the ‘active’ voice here; I’d agree there is a benefit to using the active voice.

I don’t feel particularly deprived (it’s an adjective in this case) regarding food most of the time. Just like I don’t feel particularly deprived most of the time when I get up and to to work so I can pay my bills. Sometimes, though, it’s just overwhelming to go to work. Yet I do it anyway. Just like I eat the fritter anyway.

thisPGHlife

I don't think that we disagree on the principle, merely the semantics. Yes we need to eat less food. Yes we may not be able to eat that fritter today. Yes we will feel some amount of hunger. Whether we call it deprivation or delayed gratification, six of one half dozen of another.

elisa123gal

Motivation is great and it does help in weight loss... but it does come and go during the weight loss journey. Losing weight takes changing every stinking thing you do. It is work. It is discipline It is establishing new habits. Just know you'll have tough days.. days you want to cheat, look the other way. It is natural to have those days..but just DON'T. They do pass and then the motivation bus comes around again.. thank goodness! when the weight starts coming off..and you get into smaller clothes ... it is very motivating to keep up with the the hard work. it is worth it.

countcurt

skram01 wrote: »

I don't think that we disagree on the principle, merely the semantics. Yes we need to eat less food. Yes we may not be able to eat that fritter today. Yes we will feel some amount of hunger. Whether we call it deprivation or delayed gratification, six of one half dozen of another.

No matter what, a lot of people are sold on the idea that weight management shouldn't have to include anything that comes between them and their eating wants.

thisPGHlife

countcurt wrote: »

skram01 wrote: »

I don't think that we disagree on the principle, merely the semantics. Yes we need to eat less food. Yes we may not be able to eat that fritter today. Yes we will feel some amount of hunger. Whether we call it deprivation or delayed gratification, six of one half dozen of another.

No matter what, a lot of people are sold on the idea that weight management shouldn't have to include anything that comes between them and their eating wants.

Very true. But I think that also may partly be an issue of the inability to see the full truth of their situation and the way things actually work. Whether it's because they have emotional crap they need to work through first but aren't willing or ready, or because of sheer stubbornness. I say this wirhout judgement because I was there. More than once.

We all have a certain amount of emotional baggage and many of us have baggage surrounding food and eating habits. It's one of those things that that can be hard to work on because you cant not eat. Combine that with how quickly most people are to judge and it's easy to see how someone might habitually get defensive which may lead them to stonewalling.