How do you stay recommend staying motivated?

SheGlistensasSheSings

Ok guys I've gained 4/5 pounds since September. Need to get motivated! How have you inspirational New Years or always consistently motivated friends worked your magic? What keeps you in the be there get there stay there zone?

Thanks so much for all replies!

JesterMFP

I have never found the secret to staying motivated all the time. I'm not sure it's possible. I'd recommend learning to get, and stay committed, regardless of motivation coming and going. There are times when you feel all excited and determined to succeed, and you just feel so energised that you know you will do whatever it takes. Then, there are a lot of other times when it gets boring, life gets in the way, you just don't feel like you can be bothered any more. You need strategies to keep you going through those times.

What has been key for me is truly building new habits. Doing things repeatedly until they become ingrained. I exercise 4-6 days a week, even if I don't feel like it or it's raining outside, because it's become habit. It's a normal, expected part of my day. I have a shower, I brush my teeth, I go to work, I make my dinner... I exercise. It doesn't matter if I feel like it or not, it just needs to be done. Ok, occasionally I'll slack off or something gets in the way, but generally, it's non-negotiable.

Same things with calorie counting. It keeps me focused. It only takes a few minutes out of the day to plan and log my food and again, it's just a habit now. I know that I need to eat at a deficit to lose weight. I know that I need to eat at my maintenance level in order to maintain my weight. If I eat a surplus of calories, I'll gain. It's quite simple, and I have the tools to stop that from happening, so I keep tracking my food here, and I stay on track.

Beyond that, I haven't made massive changes. My diet has gradually changed a little, in order to get more protein, fibre etc, but I never did anything drastic. I never stopped eating the food I like to eat. I didn't torture myself with hours of exercise that I didn't really enjoy. I eat foods I like, and do exercise that's fun, and so I don't feel like I need to "fall off the wagon" or anything.

Weight loss is pretty boring, and weight maintenance is even worse. There's no positive reinforcement of seeing the scale go down, or seeing your body change dramatically and have people compliment you. You know what you need to do to manage your weight, so you just have to make the commitment to incorporating those things into your life. If being a healthy weight is important, you do what needs to be done, just as you would to hold down a job, or get a degree, or raise children properly. Those things can all be difficult or boring at times, but they're worth it. Just decide if being a healthy weight is worth it. For me, it hasn't been about masses of inspiration, or "magic". It's just making a decision, then being consistent and creating habits that support that decision.

Lizzy622

I try to make it a habit. I may stray a day or two due to holidays ect. but that is not my normal or my routine anymore. My routine is to log and exercise and plan my meals to be nutritious. Make the healthy habits your new comfort zone. I have actually gotten anxious when I couldn't do these things. I have learned to pack healthy food options on days my son has meets and I get stuck in a high school gym all day. Motivation has little to do with it once it is a routine.

riginthering

I cuss at myself a lot.

Seriously, though. I make myself a minute-to-minute chart, and make sure I hit everything. Well..the writing and chores still seem to be falling by the wayside, but the workout and toilette regimens are working out.

cwolfman13

Health, nutrition, fitness, etc are lifetime endeavors. As with anything you're going to have ups and downs...but bettering yourself is all about having more ups. You're not going to be on 100% of the time...that is not realistic. You are going to miss workouts...**** happens...I missed my Wed and Thurs workouts due to **** hitting the fan at work this week...no biggie...in the grand scheme of my life, those couple of days are pretty much irrelevant. There are always going to be holidays and parties and birthdays and rando neighborhood BBQs and pizza night, etc. Those occasions are largely irrelevant when you are otherwise, overwhelmingly rocking your fitness and nutrition.

You have to think big picture...not just your weight or fitting into some size...but your health and well being now and into the future...those are the things that matter. Your weight and body composition just kinda take care of themselves when you're rocking it.

Yakinnw

I cut out as much processed food as possible and try not to eat anything other than complex carbs as it eliminates the cravings for me. When I do indulge it takes me a couple days to get back on track without a struggle. I try to eat fruit as a substitute for sugar and it works for me. I also have some plantain chips that give me something crunchy/salty when I need it or some "healthier" choices of chips usually with sweet potatoes. If chocolate I like chocolate covered almonds, or a smoothie with some cocoa powder, almond milk and pecans.

I also find that when I exercise it helps me want to stay on track.

I also got a body media link recently and it's motivating to me to see what I am doing each day.

Hang in there, this is a struggle but the reward will be worth it! I really try to focus on how good that is going to feel next summer and everyday.

Elsie_Brownraisin

When I've gone down a clothes sizes and buy new clothing, it usually gives me a a bit of a kick up the backside. People noticing also helps.

Non-food treats also works for me, such as getting a book or going to the cinema on my own.

I find motivation difficult sometimes, I've found this process quite tedious at times, even though I can think of the health benefits and how much better I feel these days.

As others have said, be kind to yourself and don't be tempted to think 'I may as well stop' or 'I'll have the rest of the week off' if you have a couple of bad days, just carry on and you'll get there in the end.

Spreyton22K

So many great responses and ideas to mull over.

My 2 cents, motivation is a feeling that can come and go.....particularly if life throws you a bit of a curve ball as it's want to do.

Motivation may the key to getting your butt into gear, making the first steps to change your life, get you reading and learning all you can about sustainable nutrition and fitness .......

Next I think is the desire to COMMIT......you choose what is sensible and appropriate for you in regards to said food and exercise and you make the decision to commit to this way of living. Here is a place for being flexible too.....you may start out with particular ideas that you find don't work for you......don't give up, just change the parameters ......eg 1200 calories too low, bump it up......you thought you'd love gym work but you can't drag out any enthusiasm for it.....try walking, home DVD's, body weight stuff. Mix it up, adjust and change just don't throw in the towel ..... Be prepared that not all days are gonna be picture perfect either......this is only one aspect of your life, you may not be able to exercise one day or for a week .... you may not be able to stick to your calorie goals for that kind of time either.....breathe deeply accept whatever has gone down and then move forward, get back to your training and your foods.

Now the biggie.......turning the initial motivation/desire combined with your commitment to your regime into a HABIT. Like Mr Wolfman said the overall picture, the long-term direction is the one to focus on. Keep stoking the coals of the initial fire in your belly to change and before you know it .....this WILL be your life and you WILL be your goal.

Cheers
Karen

SheGlistensasSheSings

Thank you so much for such considerate and thoughtful replies!!

If anyone would