Hard Week...

cavegirl47

I've just started making a focused effort to eat healthier (both in types of food and portions) and exercise on a daily basis for the past few weeks, but I am having such a hard time sticking with it! Work has been really busy this week since I'm leaving my internship to head back to college, and between finishing my work and saying goodbye to all the people I met this summer, I've been eating horribly and have had no time to exercise.

Does anyone have suggestions for how to motivate myself when I've been off my regular workout schedule and eating habits? I'm the type of person who, when they fall off the horse, they crawl in the mud for a couple weeks before getting back on. But I want to get back on NOW!

bachooka

Join a challenge. Worked for me! I am ridiculously addicted to competition.

amyelizbradley

Good idea! I am part of a challenge too and it has definitely worked for me too!

Kaecklund

Hmmm... for me, I log my exercise before I do it. That means I HAVE to do it. Or I post a status update about me exercising. So I am committed. When I quit smoking (for the last time - now smoke free for over 1.5 years) I made it a point to tell people it had been x number of days/weeks since I quit. I'm the type of person that doesn't like going back on their word. So I find that when I share my successes with others, I feel the necessity to live up to them. That's just me... By joining a challenge, i feel like I have to keep up, so that helps me do the dreaded exercise. As far as dieting goes, I try to plan in advance, so I don't set myself up for failure. I think in my mind the night before what I'm going to have for lunch the next day. While I'm at work, I think about what I'm going to have for dinner. I've also started intermittent fasting. I don't eat from 8pm-12pm the next day. And when I eat my first meal (lunch) it's prepacked and waiting for me. I eat a large lunch and snacks then have dinner when I get home. Here's an interesting article on IF: http://www.myomytv.com/intermittent-fasting-and-why-im-doing-it/ I strongly suggest joining an exercise group. Go get yourself a dvd or something - there's always a 30 day shred group/p90x/ripped in 30/the list goes on... Commit and get to it! Plan to succeed and you will.

cavegirl47

Interesting idea - logging the exercise before you do it. I like the idea of that, and also maybe for food. Then I'm planning my day and it's not as hard to figure out what to eat and do since I already did! I might try that, thanks!

And thanks for the suggestions of the challenges!