Do you find motivation has a limited quantity?

LumberJacck

By that I mean, if you use it for weight loss, other things you need motivation for suffer? I'm finding that, do you too? If you do, any ideas how to combat this?

Meerataila

Yep. So prioritize by order of importance and make everything as easy on yourself as possible to reserve your energy for your top motivation requiring activities.

_Zardoz_

By that I mean, if you use it for weight loss, other things you need motivation for suffer? I'm finding that, do you too? If you do, any ideas how to combat this?

Motivation is over rated it's short term. Habit is what keeps you going

gypsy_spirit

It's not about motivation. It's about habits. Motivation is fickle. In order to keep going (and balance everything in your life) you have to build strong habits around eating well and working out. Once you do that, things will fall in place.

If I had relied on motivation, I would have quit long ago. It almost feels ingrained at this point (2.4 years). Build those habits. It pays off.

mfp2014mfp

Yes, I read an article around the New Year about making certain behaviours "non-negotiable" the same as you would brushing teeth. You just do them because you should and theyre whats best for you. In hind sight I actually think it's just being a responsible adult.

candistyx

I don't know about motivation but the willpower used to sacrifice short term desires for long term desires is definitely a limited quality.

SunofaBeach14

It's not about motivation. It's about habits. Motivation is fickle. In order to keep going (and balance everything in your life) you have to build strong habits around eating well and working out. Once you do that, things will fall in place.

If I had relied on motivation, I would have quit long ago. It almost feels ingrained at this point (2.4 years). Build those habits. It pays off.

^ Agreed. You have to have enough motivation to get started but you also have to work on building habits, which requires realistic goals and expectations, and an honest assessment of what you enjoy and don't enjoy. Find exercises that you enjoy and plan your diet around enough of the foods that you like to eat to keep you going. As for goals, set small initial goals and work towards them, then reassess and set new and bigger ones. I realize that "one step at a time" is cliche but it is so for a reason.