The Powerful Tool of Accountability: Wield It!

Brandolin11

I have discovered during my weight loss journey that the concept of "motivation" (such as getting motivated to exercise) is HIGHLY overrated.

I can talk myself out of anything I don't feel like doing at the moment, and use the excuse of just about anything. Yes, saying I'm "just not motivated", I'm just not "feeling it", is just one big old fat excuse to get away with avoiding a moment of "pain". And we overeaters really, REALLY don't like pain. We avoid it like the plague. So we come up with complex, sophisticated excuses to avoid it like, "I don't waaaannnnaaaaa!" (<==read in whiny baby voice).... :sad:

Just realizing I'm playing this game of drama with myself is a powerful tool to "snap out it". But even then, I sometimes simply can't seem to just "make myself" get out there and do it.

Here's how I overcame that:

The moment I start feeling the pressure coming on of not wanting to work out, I "confess it" out loud here on MFP, on my wall. I say something like, "I really really really really really really don't want to run tonight. But I really really really really really really NEED to run tonight. I really really really really really really need you guys to tell me to run tonight."

And guess what? People start coming out of the woodwork!

"Go Bee!"
"You can do it!"
"Think about how good you'll feel!"
"Never say die!"
"Write us back when you get back and tell us how good you feel!"

Suddenly - I WANT to work out. I catch their excitement. I don't want to look like a baby in front of them and come back later and say, I didn't do it, you guys, sorry. :ohwell: They KNOW now that I need to go. It'll be a little humiliating to not do it, let's face it. I also don't want to take advantage of their good graces - they took the time to encourage me, the least I can do is follow their advice.

And you know a cool side effect is? Some of those people who encouraged me felt the SAME WAY. But they saw that I was doing it, encouraged me, and caught their own encouragement. Or, other friends who didn't comment might have read everyone's support as well, and felt that "second-hand support", if you will.

Its' just a good situation all around. Try it - you'll like it! :happy:

Brandolin11

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