It might not be lack of motivation

Yanicka1

Let me tell you a story. A long time ago, a baby elephant was born in captivity. While he was very little, his handlers used a chain to tie his leg to the ground. The little elephant pulled and pulled trying to get free but it never worked. Now that the elephant is full grown, the same chain is keeping him in place even tho he could easily break it. This phenomenon is called learned helplessness.

Learned helplessness is the condition of a human or animal that has learned to behave helplessly, failing to respond even though there are opportunities for it to help itself by avoiding unpleasant circumstances or by gaining positive rewards. Learned Helplessness theory is the view that clinical depression and related mental illnesses may result from a perceived absence of control over the outcome of a situation.Organisms that have been ineffective and less sensitive in determining the consequences of their behavior are defined as having acquired Learned Helplessness.

All that is very interesting but why is it posted on a fitness board? Because how many time do we see a thread about someone not doing what they need to do in order to take control of their weight and health? So many of us tried and failed at this.....I am sure we all have a story about using this diet or that diet and failing, or succeeding and than gaining it all back. The worst is that when we fail, we feel it is our fault. Not the fact that the diet is so low in calories that you will binge, or making it so restrictive that you freak out at the idea of a family Sunday diner, or fearing whole group of food or nutrients.

So we fail, and we fail, and we fail....we end up fatter than ever believing that it is our fault. We tugged and tugged at this damn chain and some of us end up thinking that we can't win at this. Heck how many time do we see in the success story that " I was not even sure I could do it"

For some, sadly it is not even worth it to try. For the others, those who come here and log more than a month, I know that you doubt your ability to do lose the weight. To do the "right" thing, to exercise even tho you were always the last picked in gym class. It is very hard to be successful if you have no faith in your capacities.

Now you have those who are successful. Usually they will tell you to eat enough, to not sweat that nice birthday diner, not to be scared of that bowl of ice cream that you can fit in you calories allowance. That you do not have to run for hours to see results and they are giving you this advice for free........quite different from the "diet industry" no?

I know that it is so different and might be scary.......but my question to you is, will you pull on that chain? The chain of the diet industry, those who want to sell you books, or a program, or this cleanse, or that pre packaged food. .....those persons and companies like you helpless, otherwise how can they tell you what to do for a price. Tugging on that chain is taking everything you think is true and researching the other side of the story. You might confirmed what you were thinking.......or not. Take the power, believe that you do have that power.


TL:DR you are more powerful and able that you think. Question everything you think you know.

UsedToBeHusky

I actually really needed to read this today.

Thank you! :flowerforyou:

RAGGEDYANN1970

i just read in a book, "some people expect perfection from themselves b/c they know they will fail, this gives them an excuse to give-up."
it hit me like a ton of bricks when i read it. that is me. not only in health & fitness but every aspect of my life. i loved your story, thanks for sharing. i am trying to get over all that mess!

JesterMFP

Great post. :flowerforyou:

JesterMFP

i just read in a book, "some people expect perfection from themselves b/c they know they will fail, this gives them an excuse to give-up."
it hit me like a ton of bricks when i read it. that is me. not only in health & fitness but every aspect of my life. i loved your story, thanks for sharing. i am trying to get over all that mess!

Wow, that's quite thought provoking too.

VBnotbitter

Good post, thank you

K_Serz

TL:DR you are more powerful and able that you think. Question everything you think you know.

Thank you.

:flowerforyou:

ninerbuff

In for this. Following methods that seem "logical: instead of methods that are scientifically (real science not pseudoscience) proven, have many whining and crying about weight loss on a daily basis. I'll add that impatience is another factor in lack of results.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

_crafty_

:flowerforyou:

MB_Positif

Beautifully said and SO thankful that I have adhered to the methods of eating plenty of food and exercising but not excessively. What did this do for me? Well...it helped me lose 50 pounds, keep (almost) all of it off for a year. The only reason I gained any weight since starting here was because I had brain surgery in February and gained a few pounds during recovery, all but two of which are gone now.

Mother_Superior

BikerGirlElaine

What a great message, thank you for taking the time to share it

:drinker: :glasses:

mommabenefield

amazing way to start the week

MercenaryNoetic26

Great post!

It's sad when people can't believe in themselves. Hope this helps someone snap out of it.

I admit to being a product junkie, but I def read up on supps as much as possible prior to purchase.

rissadiane

This is very thought-provoking! It makes me look at how I use and why I use excuses.

RunWinterGarden

AWESOME post! Love it!

OneWildAndPreciousLife

Awesome post. Thanks for this!

_firecracker_

"It is very hard to be successful if you have no faith in your capacities."

This. People sell themselves short. If they've lived a life where they've been down, and others have encouraged them to think its deserved, they have a hard time realizing their potential.

Not only question everything, always question the boundaries of your comfort zone. this!

Fozzi43

*stands up and applauds you*

That was a fantastic and very thought provoking post...and just what I needed to hear.

Thank you :flowerforyou:

TallGlassOfQuirky

Awesome, Yanicka.

TavistockToad

this!

SuperCrsa

Bump

Martucha123

:flowerforyou:

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Lovely!!


But for me it really is lack of motivation. :grumble:

shannashannabobana

amazing way to start the week

Love it.

kristen49233

Great post! Thank you!!

treimnitz

I totally agree with this message.
I got to my weight goal (and more) once before and gained back 50 pounds when being pregnant. I just gave birth about 7 weeks ago and have to lose 30 pounds to get back to my pre-pregnancy birth weight. Unfortunately, I was advised NOT to breastfeed, so it won't be easy losing the weight.
Reading this helps. At times, I feel such lack of motivation or even ability. But I was strong enough before to lose the weight, so I know I can do it again!
Thank you for reminding me of this.

JessicaBR13

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

NurdyNurse

:smooched: Very nice post.

AnnaMarieDinVa

I completely agree. Thank you, OP!

DebbieLyn63

A lot of truth in that post, and it is written with respect. Everyone needs to read this, apply it to themselves, and learn how to nicely relay it to others in the way the OP did. Thank you!