Finding it hard to get motivated!

AshleyR0820

I am just starting to try this whole exercise and eating right thing. I've had two kids and really need to lose the "baby belly" and love handles. Before I had kids, I never really had to worry about weight and exercising because I could eat pretty much anything and wouldn't gain a pound. So now, I'm trying to get motivated to work out and eat better. I work afternoon shift at an assembly plant and by the time I come home, I am tired and have no energy and before work I just can't motivate myself. I only eat about 1 meal a day which I know isn't much but it's obviously not helping me lose any weight... So long story short, I would like to ask people's advice who have had a similar story and what they did to get themselves motivated?

daschaiek

In 2007 the results of an academic study were released, whereby 184 healthy college students in the US completed tests to measure motivation and exercise. The intention of the study was to find out what motivates people to exercise. In psychology, there are two types of motivation.

Extrinsic motivators are factors outside of the person that motivates them to action. Common examples can include rewards for performance, penalties for not performing, competing with others, and having others cheer you on.
Intrinsic motivators are factors inside a person that motivates them to action. This most commonly includes doing something because they enjoy it or to feel good about themselves.
What was most interesting about the study was the fact that when people are thinking about exercising (but not yet doing it), extrinsic motivators have a greater affect in getting them to exercise than intrinsic motivators. This means that factors like being rewarded for exercising and having cheerleaders will get you going more so than doing it because you enjoy exercise. However, once you’ve started exercise and gotten into a habit, internal motivators begin to have a greater affect on a person to keep that exercise going.



So, if you’ve been thinking about exercise but just can’t get yourself going, start looking for external factors to motivate you. Find out more at www.tryary.com

Lizzy622

I am assuming your babies are still pretty much babies. Find some mommy and me type exercises that involve your children. It will be great bonding and fun time and get you in shape. I crawled through blanket and chair mazes with my kids and got a great work out. Fun is the main factor that keeps me coming back to exercise. As far as eating, I was always a "healthy" eater but my portions were out of whack. I tried to always have tons of fruit and veggies around and lead by example.